Describe the process of transcription
RNA polymerase binds to the DNA at the start of a gene
* Hydrogen bonds between base pairs break, causing DNA to unwind and strands to separate
* One strand acts as the template (antisense strand)
* Complementary RNA nucleotides bind by base pairing (A–U, C–G)
* RNA polymerase joins nucleotides together forming phosphodiester bonds → mRNA strand forms
* mRNA detaches and leaves the nucleus through nuclear pores
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Describe the process of transcription | RNA polymerase binds to the DNA at the start of a gene
* Hydrogen bonds between base pairs break, causing DNA to unwind and strands to separate
* One strand acts as the template (antisense strand)
* Complementary RNA nucleotides bind by base pairing (A–U, C–G)
* RNA polymerase joins nucleotides together forming phosphodiester bonds → mRNA strand forms
* mRNA detaches and leaves the nucleus through nuclear pores |
Describe the process of translation. | mRNA attaches to a ribosome in the cytoplasm
* Ribosome reads mRNA in triplets called codons
* tRNA molecules carry specific amino acids to the ribosome
* Each tRNA has an anticodon complementary to the mRNA codon
* Ribosome forms peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids → polypeptide chain forms
* Process continues until a stop codon is reached and the protein is released |