Reading a Codon Chart

Front

What is a codon?

Back

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.

Front

What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

Back

mRNA (messenger RNA) carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis.

Front

What is transcription in the context of genetics?

Back

Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into mRNA, which then carries the genetic information to the ribosome.

Front

How do you determine the mRNA sequence from a DNA sequence?

Back

To determine the mRNA sequence, replace each DNA nucleotide with its complementary RNA nucleotide: A with U, T with A, C with G, and G with C.

Front

What is the start codon and its significance?

Back

The start codon is AUG, which signals the beginning of protein synthesis and codes for the amino acid methionine.

Front

What is a stop codon?

Back

A stop codon is a nucleotide triplet within mRNA that signals the termination of translation, indicating that the protein is complete.

Front

How do you read a codon chart?

Back

A codon chart is used to translate mRNA codons into their corresponding amino acids by matching the three-letter codon with the amino acid it codes for.

Front

What is the amino acid sequence for the mRNA codon AUG GCA AAC CGU?

Back

The amino acid sequence is Met-Ala-Asn-Arg.

Front

What is the significance of the genetic code being universal?

Back

The universality of the genetic code means that the same codons code for the same amino acids in almost all organisms, indicating a common evolutionary origin.

Front

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

Back

DNA is double-stranded and contains the sugar deoxyribose, while RNA is single-stranded and contains the sugar ribose.