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VocabularyTranscription - Transcription is the process of copying the information of a DNA sequence into an mRNA strand. This involves a RNA polymerase attaching to the specific part of the DNA strand, unwinding it, copying one end, and then rewinding the DNA back. This new mRNA strand leaves the nucleus and then finds a ribosome to initiate translation.
Translation - Translation is the step following transcription in protein synthesis. Once the mRNA attaches to the ribosome, tRNA (transfer RNA) molecules start to bring in amino acids and create the polypeptide chains. The polypeptide chains are sequences of amino acids, which are determined by the code of the anti-codons of the tRNA which match the codons of the mRNA Codons/Anti-Codons - Codons are triplet sequences on mRNA that code for a specific amino acid. Each different arrangement of 3 of the base nucleotides of RNA (U,A,C,G) calls for a different amino acid. Anti-codons are what tRNA molecules use to match up with the mRNA, giving the right amino acid to the polypeptide chain. The nucleotides of the anti-codons and the codons form pairs, allowing the right amino acid to be identified and passed on to the chain. Amino Acids - Amino acids are simple organic compounds. Every amino acid has the same structure, 1 amino group, 1 carboxyl group, 1 carbon, 1 hydrogen, and 1 side-chain. The side-chain is what differs in each amino acid, creating the 20 different types. Polypeptide Chain - Polypeptide chains are chains of many amino acids, held by amide bonds. These polypeptide chains are what create proteins. DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the carrier of genetic information. DNA is located inside the nucleus and is the genetic 'code' that determines genes. DNA relates to protein synthesis because it is what mRNA is copied from. mRNA - mRNA (messenger RNA) is a type of RNA that caries information. A mRNA molecule carries a specific sequence of DNA outside the nucleus into the cytoplasm for processing. mRNA is created during transcription, when a section of DNA is copied into an mRNA strand by a RNA polymerase. For protein synthesis, the mRNA contains the codons that match with anti-codons which create the polypeptide chains. tRNA - tRNA are the small RNA molecules which carry amino acids to ribosomes to create polypeptide chains. During translation, when the anti-codons of tRNA match the codons of the mRNA attached to the ribosome, the amino acid attached to the tRNA are added to the growing polypeptide chain. tRNA molecules affect protein synthesis because they bring the amino acids which create polypeptide chains, which form the proteins (in my case, the protein was Amyloid Precursor Protein) |