RNA Structure & Basics
This is the full name of the single-stranded molecule that acts as a copy of a gene's DNA sequence.
What is RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)?
This is the primary enzyme responsible for building a new RNA strand from a DNA template.
What is RNA Polymerase?
This is the specific cellular organelle where transcription takes place in eukaryotes.
What is the nucleus?
This is the protective structure added to the 5' end of the pre-mRNA molecule.
What is the 5' cap?
This is the DNA strand that RNA Polymerase reads to build the complementary RNA.
What is the template strand?
Unlike DNA, which uses Thymine (T), RNA uses this base instead.
What is Uracil (U)?
These helper proteins ensure RNA Polymerase binds to the correct spot on the DNA.
What are transcription factors?
The rule that dictates how RNA bases pair with the DNA template strand.
What is complementary base pairing? (A-U, T-A, C-G, G-C)
This is the name for the process of removing non-coding introns from the RNA transcript.
What is RNA splicing?
The DNA double helix must undergo this process first to expose the bases of the template strand.
What is unwinding?
Name the four nitrogenous bases found in RNA.
What are Adenine (A), Uracil (U), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C)?
This specific term describes the spot on the DNA where RNA Polymerase binds to begin transcription.
What is the promoter?
In which direction is the new RNA strand synthesized (grown)?
What is 5' to 3'?
This long chain of adenine nucleotides is added to the 3' end of the pre-mRNA for stability.
What is the poly-A tail?
If the DNA template strand reads "T A C", what will the corresponding mRNA sequence be?
What is "A U G"?
A key structural difference between the DNA double helix and RNA.
What is RNA being single-stranded?
This is the signal that tells RNA Polymerase to stop transcription and release the new RNA strand.
What is a termination signal?
Which of the two DNA strands is not used as a template for a specific gene?
What is the coding (or non-template) strand?
A modified mRNA molecule is often called "mature mRNA" because it has undergone this collective processing.
What is processing (capping, tailing, and splicing)?
A sequence of DNA is A T T C G. What is the sequence of the complementary RNAmolecule that would be made from this sequence?
What is "U A A G C"?
This type of RNA, is the specific product of transcription that carries the genetic code for protein building
What is mRNA (Messenger RNA)?
The full name of the enzyme complex that creates the poly-A tail.
What is poly-A polymerase?
Besides the nucleus, which organelle in plant cells also contains DNA and carries out transcription?
What is the mitochondria? (Note: Chloroplasts also work here)
During splicing, the non-coding sections of RNA (introns) are removed, and these coding sections are joined together.
What are exons?
From start to finish, list the three main stages of transcription in order.
What are initiation, elongation, and termination?