1. After leaving the nucleus, mRNA heads to a ribosome.

2. This begins the process of translation, when a ribosome uses the mRNA to make protein.

3. How does translation work?

4. 1. The ribosome reads the mRNA 3 nucleotides at a time
1. The ribosome reads the mRNA 3 nucleotides at a time. Each group of nucleotides is called a codon. R M C
Codons are like WORDS
codon
codon
codon
codon
ribosome

5. There are 20 possible amino acids
2. Each codon calls for a specific amino acid. C A A C U G
= Serine A U G
= Methionine
There are 20 possible amino acids G C U
= Alanine U A C
= Tyrosine

6. Transfers AA’s to the ribosome Ribosome polymerizes the AA’s
3. The amino acids are brought to the ribosome by tRNA molecules (transfer RNA). A A R T T
Transfers AA’s to the ribosome
Amino acid
Ribosome polymerizes the AA’s A G U C U A A G G A C C
tRNA
codon
codon
codon
codon
ribosome

7. How is the correct amino acid always brought over?

8. Each tRNA molecule carries only one kind of amino acid.
Methionine
Arginine
Tyrosine A U G C G A U A C

9. Each tRNA molecule has an anticodon which is complementary to a codon in mRNA.G C G A
Anticodon
codon
codon
codon
codon
ribosome

10. Since codons and anticodons must match, very few errors occur during translation.
ribosome

11. Translation amino acid protein tRNA anticodon ribosome mRNA codon
1. Name of process:
amino acid
protein 2. 1.
tRNA 3. 4.
anticodon 5.
ribosome 7.
mRNA 6.
codon
Word bank: mRNA. tRNA, codon, anticodon, amino acid, protein, ribosome.

12. mRNA tRNA Involved in transcription, translation, or both? Main job
Contains codons or anticodons?

13. m
Ribosome

14. mRNA tRNA Both Translation
Involved in transcription, translation, or both?
Main job
Contains codons or anticodons?
Both
Translation

15. m
Ribosome

16. Carry message out of nucleus Transfer amino acids to the ribosome
mRNA
tRNA
Involved in transcription, translation, or both?
Main job
Contains codons or anticodons?
Both
Translation
Carry message out of nucleus
Transfer amino acids to the ribosome
Codons
Anticodons

17. Now it’s time for you to learn how to translate mRNA into protein.

18. These are the letters in an mRNA codon
This is a codon chart:
These are the letters in an mRNA codon

19. These are the amino acids Their names are abbreviated
This is a codon chart:
These are the amino acids
Their names are abbreviated
Serine = Ser

20. This chart can be used to translate mRNA into a protein.

21. Say you have the codon U A C
= Tyr (tyrosine)

22. Say you have the codon C G A
= Arg (Arginine)

23. Say you have the codon G U U
= Val (Valine)

24. Say you have the codon A C A
= Thr (Threonine)

25. Translate the mRNA into protein:C U A G A G C C U
Leu
Glu
Pro

26. Transcribe the DNA into mRNA. Then, translate the mRNA into protein:G T A C G T G U G C A U G C A C
Cys
Met
His