Flashcards: Chap 17 Part 2- Translation

Front

Redundancy of the code

Back

Refers to multiple codons coding for the same amino acid, providing a buffer against mutations.

Front

Structure of tRNA

Back

tRNA molecules help decode mRNA sequences into proteins by carrying amino acids to the ribosome.

They hydrogen bond with themselves to form the unique tRNA shape, bind an amino acid at its 3'end, and have 3 exposed bases that point outward called the anticodon.

Front

Ribosome structure

Back

Ribosomes are the cellular structures where protein synthesis occurs, composed of rRNA and proteins.

2 subunits:
Small: has binding site for mRNA
Large: has 3 binding sites for tRNAs

Front

mRNA Codons

Back

A codon is a group of 3 mRNA nucleotides.

Front

1 Codon Codes for ___ Amino Acid (how many?)

Back

Each codon corresponds to one amino acid.

Front

Codon GAU will lead to which amino acid?

Back

Aspartic acid (Asp)

Front

Why can’t a codon be 2 mRNA nucleotides? Why 3?

Back

A codon is 3 nucleotides long to provide enough combinations to code for all 20 amino acids.

Front

Redundancy in genetic coding

Back

Codons GAA and GAG both specify glutamic acid, demonstrating redundancy. This is also known as "degeneracy."

Front

No ambiguity in genetic coding

Back

Neither GAA nor GAG specifies any other amino acid, indicating no ambiguity.

Front

Molecules of tRNA are specific for only one amino acid.

Back

One end of tRNA attaches to a specific amino acid, while the other end, called the anticodon, hydrogen bonds to the mRNA codon by base pairing.