RNA and protein synthesis Flashcards
RNA needed to make what?
Proteins
What are found in the nucleus?
DNA molecules (so genes)
What can’t move out of the nucleus and why?
DNA molecules because they’re very large
Where does protein synthesis happen?
In the cytoplasm at organelles called ribosomes
What happens when a cell needs a particular protein?
A copy of the gene that codes for it is made in the nucleus
Why can the copy of the gene move into the cytoplasm, and so can do what?
The copy is smaller than DNA, so it can move into the cytoplasm, where it can be used to make the protein
What is the copy of the gene made from?
A molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA)
What is DNA used as a template for?
To make an mRNA molecule
What is RNA made up of, and have what?
Nucleotides, which each have a base
What do the bases on RNA nucleotides do?
Line up next to their complementary bases on the DNA template
What is there none of in RNA, so what happens instead?
In RNA there’s no thymine (T), so the base uracil (U) binds to adenine (A) in the DNA instead
What happens once the bases on the RNA molecules have paired with the bases on the DNA strand?
The RNA nucleotides join together to make an mRNA molecule
Eventually a whole copy of what is made and what is the sequence of bases in the mRNA copy?
A whole copy of the gene is made and the sequence (order) of bases in the mRNA copy is complementary to the sequence of bases in the DNA template
