Protein Synthesis Vocabulary

Front

What is transcription?

Back

Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. It occurs in the nucleus and is the first step in protein synthesis.

Front

What is translation?

Back

Translation is the process of decoding the mRNA to synthesize proteins. It occurs in the cytoplasm and involves ribosomes.

Front

What is a ribosome?

Back

A ribosome is a cellular structure that facilitates the translation of mRNA into proteins. It can be found free in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Front

What is the role of mRNA?

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 the role of tRNA?

Back

tRNA (transfer RNA) transports amino acids to the ribosome during translation, matching them to the corresponding codons on the mRNA.

Front

What is the genetic code?

Back

The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how the sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA is translated into the amino acid sequence of proteins.

Front

What are codons?

Back

Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid during protein synthesis.

Front

What is the start codon?

Back

The start codon is the first codon of a messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript that is translated by a ribosome. It is usually AUG, which codes for methionine.

Front

What is a stop codon?

Back

A stop codon is a nucleotide triplet within mRNA that signals the end of translation. Common stop codons are UAA, UAG, and UGA.

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.