Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Codons

100

This code is systematically read by the cell in distinct three-letter groupings.

Genetic code

200

This is a group of three nucleotide bases in messenger RNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

Codon

300

This specific triplet, which codes for methionine, serves as the universal "start" codon for protein synthesis.

AUG

400

This is the total number of unique "stop" codons (UAA, UAG, and UGA) that exist in the genetic code.

Three

500

This specific amino acid is explicitly specified by the AUG codon at the beginning of protein synthesis.

Methionine

Translation

100

This is the name of the process that produces proteins by decoding the sequence of mRNA codons.

Translation

200

This specific type of transcribed molecule directs the entire translation process.

mRNA

300

This cellular structure attaches directly to an mRNA molecule to initiate the process of translation.

Ribosome

400

This specific type of chemical bond is formed by the ribosome to link adjacent amino acids together.

Peptide bond

500

This is the newly synthesized chain of amino acids that is released from the ribosome when translation is complete.

Polypeptide

The Roles of RNA in Translation

100

What is mRNA's role?

mRNA carries instructions for polypeptide synthesis from nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm

200

What is tRNA's role?

tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosomes and matches them to the coded mRNA message

300

What is rRNA's role?

rRNA forms important part of both subunits of the ribosomes

Expression and dogma

100

This is the foundational principle of molecular biology stating that information is transferred from DNA to RNA to protein.

Central dogma

200

This term describes what has happened to a gene or DNA segment when it is actively used by a cell to build a protein.

Gene expression

300

According to the central dogma, information takes this final form after it is transferred from DNA to RNA.

A protein

400

Summary

The central dogma of molecular biology states that genetic information flows in a single direction: from DNA to RNA to protein. When a specific segment of DNA code is actively used to build a protein, scientists state that the gene has been expressed through the process of gene expression.