D1.2 - protein synthesis Flashcards
allele
form of a gene which differs from other versions by one or a few bases
gene
section of DNA that codes for a protein
non-template strand
strand of DNA not used in transcription that has a complimentary base sequence to the template strand
somatic cell
a body cell that is not a gamete
template strand
strand of DNA used for transcription of a particular gene
triplet
group of 3 bases in DNA that code for an amino acid or a stop signal to terminate translation
transcription
synthesis of mRNA using a DNA template
- first stage of gene expression where genes can be switched on or off
what is the sequence of mRNA determined by?
order of the base sequence of the gene being transcribed
what is the process of transcription?
- in the nucleus, DNA is unwound and strands are separated by RNA polymerase breaking H bonds
- RNA polymerase causes new RNA nucleotides to be attached to the template strand of DNA using complementary base pairing which are linked together by phosphodiester bonds into a strand of mRNA
- mRNA detaches from the DNA template strand when the terminator sequence has been reached
- mRNA molecule moves out of the nucleus to a ribosome in the cytoplasm
- DNA rewinds
how do new RNA nucleotides bind to the template strand of the DNA?
hydrogen bonding between the DNA and RNA bases
what can single DNA strands be used as a template for?
single DNA strands can be used as a template for transcribing a base sequence without the DNA base changing
why does transcription occur frequently in somatic cells?
to conserve DNA base sequences as somatic cells don’t divide and DNA replication doesn’t occur
what happens to genes during protein synthesis?
genes are expressed but not all genes in a cell are expressed in a given time
- allows genetically identical cells within an organism to gain specialised structures and functions via differentiation
translation
synthesis of polypeptides from information encoded in mRNA which is translated into an amino acid sequence
what is the role of mRNA?
messenger RNA - carries information from a gene within the DNA to a ribosome in the cytoplasm
- binds to small sub-unit of a ribosome and determines the amino acid sequence of the protein