DNA Structure and Codon Translation

Study Notes

Codon: a sequence of three nucleotides (A, C, G, or T) that codes for a specific amino acid or stops protein synthesis
Genetic code: the set of rules that determines which amino acid corresponds to each codon
Start codon: AUG, which codes for methionine and initiates protein synthesis
Stop codons: UAG, UAA, and UGA, which terminate protein synthesis
Codon table: a table that shows the correspondence between codons and amino acids

Amino acid sequence: the sequence of amino acids in a protein
Primary structure: the sequence of amino acids in a protein, which determines its 3D structure and function
Peptide bond: a covalent bond between two amino acids, formed during protein synthesis
Polypeptide chain: a sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds

Transcription: the process of creating a complementary RNA copy from a DNA template
mRNA (messenger RNA): the RNA molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis
Transcription initiation: the process of recruiting RNA polymerase to the DNA template to begin transcription
Transcription termination: the process of ending transcription, which occurs when the RNA polymerase reaches a termination signal
mRNA processing: the modification of the primary transcript to form mature mRNA, including splicing, capping, and polyadenylation

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides (A, C, G, or T) that codes for a specific amino acid or stops protein synthesis.
The genetic code determines which amino acid corresponds to each codon.
The start codon AUG codes for methionine and initiates protein synthesis.
The stop codons UAG, UAA, and UGA terminate protein synthesis.
A codon table shows the correspondence between codons and amino acids.

The amino acid sequence is the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
The primary structure of a protein, which is the sequence of amino acids, determines its 3D structure and function.
Peptide bonds are covalent bonds between two amino acids, formed during protein synthesis.
A polypeptide chain is a sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Transcription is the process of creating a complementary RNA copy from a DNA template.
mRNA (messenger RNA) carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
Transcription initiation involves recruiting RNA polymerase to the DNA template to begin transcription.
Transcription termination occurs when the RNA polymerase reaches a termination signal.
mRNA processing modifies the primary transcript to form mature mRNA through splicing, capping, and polyadenylation.