Protein Synthesis

Front

What is protein synthesis?

Back

The process by which cells generate new proteins, involving transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of mRNA to amino acids.

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What is mRNA?

Back

Messenger RNA, a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized.

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What is a codon?

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A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Front

What is the role of tRNA in protein synthesis?

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Transfer RNA brings the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome during translation, matching them to the codons on the mRNA.

Front

What is the start codon?

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AUG, which codes for the amino acid Methionine and signals the start of protein synthesis.

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What is a stop codon?

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A codon that signals the end of protein synthesis; examples include UAA, UAG, and UGA.

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How many amino acids are there?

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There are 20 standard amino acids that are used to build proteins.

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What is the significance of the sequence of nitrogen bases in mRNA?

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The sequence determines the order of amino acids in a protein, which affects the protein's structure and function.

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What is transcription?

Back

The process of copying a segment of DNA into mRNA.

Front

What is translation?

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The process of decoding mRNA to synthesize a polypeptide chain (protein) at the ribosome.