RNA and Protein Synthesis Chapter 10-2 and 10-3 (pg. 190-197)
STUDY GUIDE
Biology
**This study guide is meant as a GUIDE. It is not a substitute for studying the notes, learning
the vocabulary or completing the review sheet (if required). **
DNA

Structure- Double Helix

Function- Contains genetic material-genetic code

Nitrogen Bases- A, T, C, G

Sugar- Deoxyribose
RNA

Structure- Single Helix

Function- Transcribes & Translates genetic code into proteins

Nitrogen Bases- A, U, C, G
1. Two parts of protein synthesis are:
(1) Transcription
(2)Translation. (easy way to remember the order – ‘c’ comes before ‘l’ )
2. In transcription, mRNA is made from specific DNA code.
3. Transcription takes place in the nucleus.
4. Translation takes place in the cytosol. Ribosome translates mRNA (codon)
code into protein with the help of tRNA (anticodon).
5. RNA polymerase is the enzyme that assists with transcription.
6. DNA Transcribes into mRNA

ex: DNA genetic code: T A C G A T = mRNA - A U G C U A)
7. mRNA is complementary to both DNA and to tRNA.

Ex: DNA genetic code:T A C G A T = mRNA - A U G C U A = tRNA –
U A C G A U)
8. The beginning of the gene being transcribed is the promoter sequence; the
end of the gene being transcribed is referred to as the termination
sequence.
9. In RNA, the base thymine is replaced by uracil.
10. A protein is a molecule made up of a specific sequence of amino acids.
11. Transporting amino acids to ribosome for assembly into the needed proteins
is the function of tRNA.
12. mRNA carries the instructions for making proteins.
13. The start codon is the three base sequence of mRNA that tells the ribosome
to begin translating the mRNA.
14. Transcription is the process by which DNA is used to make mRNA.
15. Proteins are put together in the ribosome.
16. RNA is used directly to make protein from the DNA information because
DNA is too big and can’t leave the nucleus.
17. DNA and RNA are different because DNA is bigger and has thymine while
RNA has uracil; DNA cannot leave the nucleus while RNA can.
18. Leucine is an example of an amino acid (a building block of protein) that
tRNA brings back to the mRNA.
19. The tRNA molecule transfers in new amino acids.
20. RNA is a single helix.
21. An anticodon is complimentary to a codon and if found on tRNA.
22. Translation is part 2 of protein synthesis