All Flashcards
What is mRNA?
Messenger RNA; carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.
What is tRNA?
Transfer RNA; brings specific amino acids to the ribosome during translation.
What is rRNA?
Ribosomal RNA; forms the structural and functional core of ribosomes.
Define transcription.
The process by which DNA is transcribed into mRNA.
Define translation.
The process by which mRNA is translated into a protein.
What is RNA polymerase?
Enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.
What are the key differences between the template strand and the coding strand?
Template Strand: Used by RNA polymerase to create mRNA, complementary to mRNA. Coding Strand: Has the same sequence as mRNA (except U instead of T), not directly used in transcription.
Compare and contrast transcription and translation.
Transcription: DNA to RNA, occurs in the nucleus (eukaryotes), uses RNA polymerase. Translation: RNA to protein, occurs in ribosomes.
What is the effect of adding a poly-A tail to mRNA?
Protects mRNA from degradation and aids in nuclear export.
What is the effect of adding a GTP cap to mRNA?
Protects mRNA and helps in ribosome recognition.
What is the effect of alternative splicing?
Different combinations of exons can be joined, leading to different mRNA molecules and protein variants from the same gene, increasing protein diversity.