Name _______________________________________
Section 8.5 Translation
Date __________________
Main Ideas:
 DNA’s instructions are carried out by mRNA and tRNA at the ribosomes
 Amino acids are coded by codon sequence of mRNA
 Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds to become a protein
Vocabulary:
 Translation
 Codon


Stop Codon
Start codon
1. Define Translation
2. What is a codon?
3. How many letters make up a codon? ____________
4. A ________ codon signals the end of the amino acid chain while a _______ codon signals the beginning
of translation. Looking at the Genetic Code chart in Figure 8.13, identify the three stop codons.
________, _________ & _________. The start codon always codes for the amino acid Methionine so
it’s codon would be __________.
5. The sites of protein synthesis are the _________________________.
6. Proteins are made up of individual monomers called ________ _________.
7. DNA is the boss who gave the instructions to mRNA. mRNA transcribed the message and went to the
ribosomes to be translated. mRNA is read like a tape in a tape recorder and cannot bring the amino acid
molecules to the ribosome to make the protein. Instead, another nucleic acid called _________________
will transfer the amino acids to the mRNA in the ribosomes to form the protein.
8. Below is a tRNA molecule with an amino acid bonded to it. Label the amino acid and then write in the
anticodon which would complement the start codon on mRNA of AUG in the boxes below tRNA.
tRNA
9. Transcription occurs in the ________________ of a eukaryotic cell while translation occurs in the
_______________________ of all cells, both eukaryotic and prokaryotic
This is a summary of Protein Synthesis starting with Transcription in the nucleus and then Translation at the
ribosomes to make a protein.
Below is a section of DNA which codes for a particular gene, say adrenalin.
DNA:
ATG CGC TAT CAT GCA GGG TTA TAA 3`
3` TAC GCG ATA GTA CGT CCC AAT ATT 5`
Transcription – Please transcribe the DNA strand indicated by the arrow in mRNA.
mRNA ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
5`
This strand of mRNA will now go to the ribosomes. Individual tRNA molecules will transfer the amino acids to
the codon on the mRNA in the ribosomes. Here it will be translation into a protein (polypeptide)
Protein:
__________ - __________ - __________ - __________ - __________ - _________ - __________