Protein Synthesis & Mutations

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What is protein synthesis?

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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 the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

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mRNA (messenger RNA) carries the 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 corresponds to a specific amino acid.

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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 are ribosomes?

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Cellular structures where protein synthesis occurs, translating mRNA into amino acid sequences.

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What is a mutation?

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A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in protein structure and function.

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What is a substitution mutation?

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A type of mutation where one nucleotide is replaced by another, potentially altering the amino acid sequence.

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What is a deletion mutation?

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A mutation involving the loss of one or more nucleotides in a DNA sequence, which can shift the reading frame.

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What is an insertion mutation?

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A mutation where one or more nucleotides are added to a DNA sequence, which can also shift the reading frame.

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What is the function of tRNA?

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Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.