Biology Translation Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is translation?

Translation is the synthesis of a protein from an mRNA template.

How does translation relate to the Central Dogma?

During translation, messages travel from DNA in the cell nucleus to the ribosomes to make proteins.

How does translation differ from transcription?

Transcription is the process of converting DNA to RNA.

What does translation create and from what?

Translation creates a protein or polypeptide chain from tRNA bringing amino acids to the ribosomes. Signup and view all the answers

Where does translation occur and on what organelle?

Translation occurs in the cytoplasm at the ribosome on the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum. Signup and view all the answers

What makes rough ER rough?

Bumpy ribosomes. Signup and view all the answers

In translation, what is the starting language?

RNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'translated' language?

Protein. Signup and view all the answers

Which molecule translates from 'nucleotide' to 'amino acid'?

tRNA. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the tRNA molecule so important?

It can speak two languages, translating nucleotide sequences to amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

How does the shape of tRNA relate to its function?

It has an amino acid side and an anticodon side, fitting together like a key. Signup and view all the answers

What is an anticodon?

A 3 nucleotide sequence of the tRNA that matches a codon. Signup and view all the answers

How many nucleotides long is an anticodon?

3 nucleotides long. Signup and view all the answers

What is a codon?

A 3 nucleotide sequence of mRNA. Signup and view all the answers

How many codons are generated from 150 nucleotides in an mRNA molecule?

50 codons. Signup and view all the answers

How many amino acids would be in a protein made from an mRNA molecule that is 150 nucleotides long?

50 amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is so important about the genetic code?

It is the set of rules by which genetic material is translated into proteins. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Translation Overview

Translation synthesizes proteins from mRNA, converting the mRNA code into a specific amino acid sequence.
It is a step in the Central Dogma, along with transcription, where DNA's genetic information is expressed.

Relationship to Central Dogma

Central Dogma illustrates the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA (transcription) and from RNA to protein (translation).
mRNA messages travel from the nucleus to ribosomes during translation.

Transcription vs. Translation

Transcription converts DNA to RNA and serves as the messenger for translation.
Translation takes the mRNA and produces proteins in the ribosome, utilizing the information provided by mRNA.

Products of Translation

Translation results in the formation of proteins or polypeptides, starting with tRNA transporting amino acids to ribosomes.
This process is driven by the prior transcription of DNA into mRNA.

Location and Organelles

Translation occurs in the cytoplasm, specifically on ribosomes located on the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER).
The Rough ER appears "rough" due to the presence of ribosomes on its surface.

Language of Translation

The starting language for translation is RNA, with nucleotide bases A, U, C, and G.
The translated language is protein, consisting of various amino acids like Ala, Asp, and Asn.

Role of tRNA

tRNA serves as the translator molecule, facilitating the conversion of nucleotides to amino acids.
Its structure features two functional sides: one for amino acids and another for anticodons, enabling effective communication.

Anticodons and Codons

An anticodon consists of three nucleotides on the tRNA that pairs with a complementary codon on mRNA.
Codons are three-nucleotide sequences in mRNA, necessary for encoding amino acids, allowing for sufficient variability (64 possible codons) for 20 amino acids.

Genetic Code Significance

The genetic code delineates the rules for translating genetic material into proteins, governing biological processes.
It highlights the degeneracy of the code, as multiple codons can encode the same amino acid.

Nucleotide Counts

A 150-nucleotide-long mRNA translates to 50 codons, each corresponding to a single amino acid in the resulting protein.
The ratio conforms to the relationship 4^3 = 64, ensuring adequate representation of over 20 amino acids with a manageable coding structure.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the concept of translation in biology, specifically its function in protein synthesis and its relation to the Central Dogma. Through a series of flashcards, it examines how mRNA is translated into amino acid sequences and the significance of this process in cellular biology.