SUMMARY QUESTIONS

Protein Synthesis Modeling

1. Compare the phosphates, sugars & bases of DNA & RNA

DNA- phosphate, deoxyribose sugar, A,T, C,G bases

RNA- phosphate, ribose sugar, A, U, G, C bases

2. Compare the general appearance of the DNA molecule with the mRNA molecule

•DNA- double stranded, Thymine base no Uracil, double helix

•RNA- single stranded, Uracil instead of Thymine, different sugar, no helix shape

3. What is produced in transcription

Transcription makes a RNA copy of the DNA.

The genetic code is copied into a single strand of messenger RNA

4. What is produced in translation?

Translation makes a protein.

In other words the message of carried by the RNA is translated into the correct order of amino acids needed to make a specific protein (polypeptide).

5. If a DNA triplet code is TAC, what is the complementary code of mRNA?

•DNA: T A C•mRNA: A U G

6. If mRNA codons are AUG, GGU, CAG, what three codons of tRNA will attach?

•mRNA: AUG GGU CAG

•tRNA anticodons: UAC CCA GUC

7. If the DNA is the superintendent & mRNA is the order to the assembly line (ribosomes) , what’s the role of tRNA?

•tRNA is the UPS service to deliver the package aka the correct amino acid

8. What is the source of the free amino acids in the cytoplasm

•When proteins are digested from food, amino acids are released.

•Proteins are broken down into amino acid by hydrolysis reactions.

9. If the DNA analysis shows 20% adenine bases what would be the % of

•A) Thymine? … 20%•B) Cytosine?....30 %•C) Guanine…. 30%•D) Uracil?.... 0% DNA does not contain Uracil!

10. List by order of size the following: gene, cell , chromosome, atom, nucleus, base subunit, nucleotides.

•From smallest to largest:Atom, base subunit, nucleotides, gene, chromosome, nucleus, cell

11. What are two general uses of protein in an organism?

1) Build muscle2) Enzymes

12. What might be the result of a mutation of DNA in which a triplet code such as CAC now says CTC?

• DNA: C A C

•mRNA: G U G --. This is a codon for the amino acid valine

DNA MUTATES TO…

DNA: C T C

• mRNA: G A G THIS IS A different AMINO ACID!!!

glutamate