RNA Ribonucleic Acid

How are DNA and RNA related? RNA = the secretary. It takes the message from the boss (DNA) and delivers the message to the factory (ribosomes) where proteins are produced.

Structure of RNA A nucleic acid made up of repeating subunits called nucleotides Single-stranded

Nucleotides for RNA contain 3 parts: A 5 carbon sugar (ribose) A phosphate group 4 nitrogen bases Guanine (G) Cytosine (C) Adenine (A) Uracil (U) – instead of Thymine

Protein synthesis DNA to RNA to Protein Formation of proteins using the information (blueprints) from DNA

#1 (nucleus) DNA is the boss of the nucleus! It copies itself in a process called replication (DNA untwists & unzips with the aid of enzymes called helicases)

#2 (nucleus) The information on DNA is copied (transcribed) onto a mRNA strand

Transcription (DNA to RNA) The process of copying a sequence of DNA (a gene) to produce a complementary strand of RNA. #3 – Thymine is replaced by Uracil

Language Language of DNA = A, T, C, G Language of RNA = A, U, C, G Language of Proteins = 20 Amino Acids

Example: Sequence: T A C G T A T G A A A C Complimentary base pairs (DNA)? A T G C A T A C T T T G Transcribe DNA to mRNA? U A C G U A U G A A A C

#4 (nucleus - cytoplasm) The mRNA carries the genetic code “blueprint” (to make proteins) out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm

#5 (cytoplasm) The mRNA “foreman” tells the tRNA which amino acids to put together to make a protein at the ribosome.

Translation (RNA to Protein) The process in which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced.

#6 (Ribosome) tRNA reads the mRNA 3 bases at a time (called a codon) *Codon – a 3 nucleotide sequence that codes for an amino acid (amino acids make up proteins)

Codons Codons are read, without spaces, as a series of 3 nucleotides

DNA to RNA = Transcription RNA to Protein = Translation Alligator Book Page 338

#7 (Ribosome) Each codon “codes” for/determines an amino acid

#8 (Ribosome) Amino Acids are joined together to make a protein Amino acids are added until a “stop codon” is reached UAG, UAA, UGA

“Stop” = end of a polypeptide chain

Genetic Code is universal The basic components of DNA are the same in all living things. Example: the codon (amino acid) UUU will code for the amino acid Phenylalanine in an armadillo, a cactus, yeast, a human, etc. This also means a scientist can insert a gene from 1 organism into another to make a functional protein.

Processes Involved in: Compare dna & rna   DNA RNA Function # of Strands Type of Sugar Bases Processes Involved in:

Processes Involved in: Compare dna & rna   DNA RNA Function  Creates genes (which code for proteins)  (mRNA) Takes the DNA code to the ribosome # of Strands 2  1 Type of Sugar Deoxyribose Ribose Bases  A, T, G, C  A, U, G, C Processes Involved in:  Replication & Transcription  Transcription & Translation

DNA A T G T T A T C C A G T G G G T A A

Questions What process is being modeled on the front of the foldable? What process is being modeled as you go from the front right flap to the inside left? What process is being modeled as you go from the inside left to the inside right? What would happen if the DNA sequence started with GTA instead of ATG? What would happen if the mRNA sequence ended with UGA?