DNA & Protein Synthesis

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What is DNA?

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DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life. It is composed of two strands that coil around each other to form a double helix.

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What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

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mRNA (messenger RNA) is responsible for carrying the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized.

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What is the process of transcription?

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Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. During this process, the DNA strand unwinds and RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA based on the DNA template.

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What is translation in the context of protein synthesis?

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Translation is the process where ribosomes read the sequence of mRNA and use it to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, forming a protein.

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What are amino acids?

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Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 different amino acids that combine in various sequences to form proteins.

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What is tRNA and its function?

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tRNA (transfer RNA) is a type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, matching them to the coded mRNA sequence.

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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 significance of the sequence of nitrogen bases in DNA?

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The sequence of nitrogen bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine) in DNA determines the genetic information and instructions for building proteins.

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What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

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DNA is double-stranded and contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA is single-stranded and contains ribose sugar. DNA stores genetic information, whereas RNA plays a role in protein synthesis.

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What is a ribosome?

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A ribosome is a cellular structure that facilitates the translation of mRNA into proteins by linking amino acids together.