SUMMARY QUESTIONS
Protein Synthesis Modeling
1. Compare the phosphates, sugars &
bases of DNA & RNA
DNA- phosphate, deoxyribose sugar, A,T, C,G
bases
RNA- phosphate, ribose sugar, A, U, G, C
bases
2. Compare the general appearance of the
DNA molecule with the mRNA molecule
• DNA- double stranded, Thymine base no Uracil,
double helix
• RNA- single stranded, Uracil instead of Thymine,
different sugar, no helix shape
3. What is produced in transcription
Transcription makes a RNA copy of the DNA.
The genetic code is copied into a single strand
of messenger RNA
4. What is produced in translation?
Translation makes a protein.
In other words the message of carried by the RNA
is translated into the correct order of amino acids
needed to make a specific protein (polypeptide).
5. If a DNA triplet code is TAC, what is the
complementary code of mRNA?
•DNA:
T
•mRNA: A
A
U
C
G
6. If mRNA codons are AUG, GGU, CAG,
what three codons of tRNA will attach?
•mRNA:
AUG
GGU
CAG
•tRNA anticodons:
UAC
CCA
GUC
7. If the DNA is the superintendent & mRNA is the order
to the assembly line (ribosomes) , what’s the role of
tRNA?
•tRNA is the UPS service to deliver the
package aka the correct amino acid
8. What is the source of the free amino
acids in the cytoplasm
•When proteins are digested from food,
amino acids are released.
•Proteins are broken down into amino acid by
hydrolysis reactions.
9. If the DNA analysis shows 20% adenine bases
what would be the % of
•A) Thymine? … 20%
•B) Cytosine?....30 %
•C) Guanine…. 30%
•D) Uracil?.... 0% DNA does not contain Uracil!
10. List by order of size the following: gene, cell ,
chromosome, atom, nucleus, base subunit,
nucleotides.
•From smallest to largest:
Atom, base subunit, nucleotides, gene,
chromosome, nucleus, cell
11. What are two general uses of protein in an
organism?
Build muscle
2) Enzymes
1)
12. What might be the result of a mutation of
DNA in which a triplet code such as CAC now
says CTC?
•
DNA:
C
A
C
•
mRNA:
G
U
G --. This is a codon for the amino acid valine
C
T
C
G
A
G
DNA MUTATES TO…
DNA:
•
mRNA:
 THIS IS A different AMINO ACID!!!
 glutamate