Protein Synthesis

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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 transcription in the context of protein synthesis?

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Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA, specifically mRNA.

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What is translation in protein synthesis?

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Translation is the process where ribosomes read mRNA sequences to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain.

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What is a codon?

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A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

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What is an anticodon?

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An anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that pairs with a complementary codon in mRNA.

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Where does protein synthesis occur in the cell?

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Protein synthesis occurs in the ribosomes, which can be found in the cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

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What are amino acids?

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Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, linked together by peptide bonds to form polypeptides.

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Why does the order of amino acids matter in a protein?

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The order of amino acids determines the protein's structure and function; even a single change can affect its activity.

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What is the function of tRNA in protein synthesis?

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