RNA & Protein Synthesis Flashcards
RNA
-ribonucleic acid
-made of nucleotides
-sugar is ribose
-single stranded
-contains uracil instead of thymine
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
carries code from DNA to ribosomes
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
help make up ribosomes
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
matches mRNA codon to add correct amino acids during protein synthesis
Transcription
process by which DNA is made into RNA (DNA—>RNA)
RNA Polymerase
builds RNA from a DNA template
Codon
3 consecutive bases on the mRNA that specify a single amino acid
Translation
process by which RNA is made into protein (RNA—>proteins)
Mutations
any change in DNA
Point Mutation
a change in one base
Protein Synthesis
process by which cells create proteins, essential for cellular function and organismal development
Site of Protein Synthesis
ribosomes
Gene
section of DNA that codes for a protein
Building Blocks of Proteins
amino acids
Anticodon
3 bases on tRNA that match the codon
Promoter
a specific DNA sequence located upstream of a gene that signals where transcription begins, acting as a binding site for RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate gene expression
Introns
portions of DNA that are cut out and discarded during RNA splicing (non-coding regions)
Exons
segments of DNA that are spliced together to form mRNA (coding regions)
Insertion Mutation
the addition of a base or bases
Deletion Mutation
a portion of DNA or chromosome is lost
Inversion Mutation
a segment of DNA within a chromosome breaks off, flips around, and reattaches in the same chromosome, but in the reverse orientation
Duplication Mutation
a chromosome or gene is copied and inserted into another location
Silent Mutation
a base changes, but there is no change in the amino acid
Hemoglobin
a protein that makes up blood cells
