Central Dogma Flashcard

Front

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

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The central dogma describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein, typically summarized as replication, transcription, and translation.

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What is replication in the context of the central dogma?

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Replication is the process by which DNA is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules, ensuring genetic information is passed on during cell division.

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What is transcription?

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Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, where the DNA sequence is converted into a complementary RNA sequence.

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What is translation?

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Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using the mRNA sequence as a template, translating codons into amino acids.

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What is the role of mRNA?

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

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What is the role of tRNA?

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tRNA (transfer RNA) transports specific amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, matching its anticodon with the mRNA codon.

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What is the significance of the AUG codon?

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AUG is the start codon in mRNA that signals the beginning of protein synthesis and codes for the amino acid methionine.

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What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

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DNA is double-stranded and contains thymine, while RNA is single-stranded and contains uracil instead of thymine.

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What is a codon?

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

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What is the function of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

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Ribosomes are the cellular machinery that facilitate the translation of mRNA into a polypeptide chain, assembling amino acids in the correct order.