Transcription/Translation Quiz Study Guide
1. What is the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology?
DNARNAProtein
2. List the similarities and differences between DNA molecules and nucleotides and RNA molecules and
nucleotides.
Similarities
Differences
1. Both made of chains of nucleotides
1. RNA is single stranded. DNA is double helix
2. RNA has nitrogenous base uracil
3. DNA has nitrogenous base Thymine
4. DNA has Deoxyribose sugar
5. RNA has Ribose sugar
3. Draw an RNA nucleotide.
4. What are the three major types of RNA? What are the functions of each?
mRNA
Most genes contain instructions for assembling amino acids into proteins. The RNA molecules that carry
copies of these instructions are known as messenger RNA (mRNA) because they serve as the messenger
from DNA to the rest of the cell
rRNA
Ribosomes are made of proteins as well as a form of RNA known as Ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
tRNA
During the construction of proteins, a third type of RNA molecule transfers each amino acid to the ribosomes
as it is specified by coded messages in the mRNA. These RNA molecules are known as Transfer RNA
(tRNA).
5. What is the main enzyme that transcribes DNA into RNA?
RNA Polymerase
6. How does RNA polymerase know where to start and stop?
RNA polymerase will only bind to DNA in an area called the promoter region, which have specific
base sequences. There are also non-coding regions of DNA called termination sequences which tell
RNA polymerase to stop transcribing.
7. Describe in detail how RNA is edited prior to leaving the nucleus (only in Eukaryotes).
The pieces removed are called introns (intervening sequences) and are cut out why the RNA is still
inside the nucleus. The remaining portions, called exons, or expressed sequences, are spliced back
together to form the final mRNA.
8. What monomers make up polypeptide chains (proteins)?
Proteins
9. The language of mRNA instructions is called the genetic code. This code is a chain of nucleotides. This
code is read by ribosomes in 3 letter sequences called what?
Codons
10. What is the first amino acid laid down in every protein made in eukaryotes?
Methionine
11. Translation begins when the mRNA molecule in the cytoplasm attaches to a ribosome. This is called
what?
Initiation
12. The three bases on the tRNA molecule, called the _______________________, are complimentary to
one of the mRNA codons.
Anticodons
13. Like an assembly line worker who attaches one part to another, the ribosome forms a peptide bond
between the first and second amino acids. This is called what?
Elongation
14. When the ribosome reaches a stop codon, it releases the newly formed polypeptide and the mRNA
molecule, completing the process of translation. This is called what?
Termination
15. Below is an mRNA strand. Use this strand and the codon chart provided to make an amino acid chain
based on code contained in the mRNA strand.
mRNA:
UCGCACGGU
mRNA code:
UCG-CAC-GGU
Amino Acids:
Serine – Histidine - Glycine
 This mRNA code will change on the real
quiz, but will be basically the same as this
question.