1. Transcription and Translation Chapter 12
From DNA to Protein
Transcription and Translation
Chapter 12

2. Chapter 12: Specific readings and diagrams to study
2nd half of p. 220 plus page 221
Last ¼ of p. 223 and first ¾ of p. 224.
Figs. 12.2, 12.3, 12.5, 12.7, 12.13, 12.14

3. DNA to RNA to Protein The “Central Dogma” of molecular biology:
Information is stored in DNA (which can replicate for cellular reproduction). To use this information, the cell copies that information from DNA to RNA, and then uses the base sequence of the RNA to determine the amino acid sequence of a protein.

5. Properties of RNA A chain of nucleotides with Ribose as the sugar.
The geometry of ribose means that it is a single linear chain, NOT a double helix.
Four bases on the nucleotides:
Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine, and Uracil
Uracil (a pyrimidine) replaces thymine. Like thymine, it can pair with adenine.

6. Transcription
Using a small region of DNA as a template for the synthesis for a piece of RNA.
Essentially copies the information onto RNA.
This RNA can then move out of the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
Thus, it carries the information like a message, and is called “messenger RNA” (mRNA).

9. Translation mRNA goes to a ribosome.
The nucleotide sequence in mRNA specifies the amino acid sequence for the construction of a polypeptide.
It takes three nucleotides to specify one amino acid. The three-base code for an amino acid is called a codon.

11. Transfer RNA (tRNA) Small RNA molecules.
One end attaches to a particular amino acid.
Another part of the molecule has a 3-base sequence (the anticodon) complementary to the mRNA codon.
Brings amino acids into alignment, so that they can be joined.