Lesson 7 Flashcards
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What is protein synthesis?
Protein synthesis is the process by which cells make proteins.
What are the roles of proteins?
Proteins function in transport, structure, enzymes, and protection.
What is the central dogma of genetics?
The central dogma is the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.
What happens in transcription?
In transcription, DNA is transcribed into mRNA.
Where does transcription occur?
Transcription occurs in the nucleus.
What is mRNA?
mRNA is a messenger RNA that carries genetic information from the DNA to the ribosome.
Where does translation occur?
Translation occurs in the cytoplasm on the ribosome.
What is tRNA?
tRNA is transfer RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.
What is the role of ribosomes?
Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis where mRNA is translated into amino acid chains.
Define codon.
A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid.
What is the start codon?
The start codon is AUG, which codes for methionine.
What are stop codons?
Stop codons are UAA, UAG, and UGA, signaling the end of translation.
What is translation?
Translation is the process by which mRNA is translated into a polypeptide chain of amino acids.
What is the role of amino acids in proteins?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and determine the structure and function of the protein.
What are mutations?
Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that can affect protein synthesis.
Explain the wobble hypothesis.
The wobble hypothesis suggests that the third base of a codon can be flexible, allowing multiple codons to code for the same amino acid.
What is a ribosome made of?
A ribosome is made of rRNA and proteins, and has three sites: A-site, P-site, and E-site.
Explain the process of denaturation in protein synthesis.
Denaturation is the process where the protein structure is altered, usually due to heat or chemicals, causing it to lose function.
How does a mutation affect protein synthesis?
A mutation can change the amino acid sequence, leading to a non-functional or malfunctioning protein.
What is the role of the spliceosome?
The spliceosome removes introns (non-coding regions) from mRNA before it is translated.
How do stop codons work in translation?
Stop codons signal the end of the translation process, causing the ribosome to release the synthesized protein.
Explain the importance of the 5’ cap and 3’ poly-A tail in mRNA processing.
The 5’ cap and 3’ poly-A tail protect the mRNA from degradation and assist in its export from the nucleus.
How does translation differ in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
In prokaryotes, translation occurs simultaneously with transcription, whereas in eukaryotes, transcription happens in the nucleus and translation in the cytoplasm.
How does the ribosome move along mRNA during translation?
The ribosome moves along the mRNA from 5’ to 3’, reading the codons and forming peptide bonds between amino acids.
