TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION
- RNA molecules is exactly identical to
Transcription- synthesis of mRNA by a DNA
template by RNA polymerase.
Translation- synthesis of polypeptides on the
ribosomes.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF TRANSCRIPTION
AND TRANSLATION?
These processes is significant for the creation
of polypeptides that forms proteins.
3 Main Types of RNA:
1. mRNA- found on cytoplasm and nucleus
- delivers genetic information from
DNA to ribosomes.
2. tRNA - found on cytoplasm and nucleus
- delivers amino acid to ribosomes to
build a polypeptides or proteins.
3. rRNA- found on nucleus and ribosomes
- combines with proteins to make
ribosomes.
TRANSCRIPTION PROCESS
NUCLEUS is the site of transcription since it is
where you find the DNA.
1. INITIATION
RNA polymerase binds to a promoter region.
This signals DNA to unwind.
2. ELONGATION
RNA polymerase reads the unwounded DNA
stand and builds mRNA molecules on the sense
strand using complementary base pairs.
5’-3’ sense or coding strand
- Not used as a template for
transcription, used ONLY AS A
DIRECTION FOR TRANSCRIPTION
- Contains codons
the sense strand (ORIGINAL DNA
MOLECULE 5’-3’ STRAND) except for
the presence of U instead of T.
3’-5’ anti-sense or template strand
- Used in transcription
- mRNA and sense strand are
compliment to anti sense
- contains anti-codons
CODON- 3 base sequences of mRNA
ANTI-CODON- 3 base sequences of tRNA
START CODON- AUG (METHIONINE)
STOP CODON- UAA, UAG, UGA
3. TERMINATION
Occurs when RNA polymerase crosses the
transcription terminator, it is a hairpin
loop structure causing RNA polymerase
and mRNA strand to dissociate in the DNA.
TRANSLATION PROCESS
RIBOSOMES or the free ribosomes of the
cytoplasm is the site of translation. It has 2
parts the large part which is called the 60s
subunits and the smaller part which is the
40s subunits. 40s subunits is where
initiation happens while elongation
happens in 60s subunits. 60s subunits have
also 2 major sites/parts namely the P site
and the A site.
P site- holds the peptide chain
A site- accepts tRNA
1. INITIATION
5’ to 3’ of mRNA binds in the small 40s subunits
of ribosomes along with methionyl tRNA. AUG
a starting codon must be recognized in order
for translation to begin.
2. ELONGATION
Methionyl tRNA occupies P site while
aminoacyl tRNA with an anti-codon occupies
the A site. (Remember that methionyl tRNA is
together with mRNA, met tRNA serves as a
vehicle for mRNA to be transported inside the
ribosomes). The enzyme peptidyl-transferase
forms peptide bonds between Methionine
(methionine or AUG a starting codon is found
on the mRNA present in the P site together
with met tRNA) and aminoacyl tRNA thus
synthesizing the whole strand.
3. TERMINATION
One of the 3 stop codons enters the A site. (The
A site is the one who recognizes the stop codon
because basically mRNA that contains the
codons is found in the P site). No tRNA binds to
these codons so the peptides and tRNA in the
P site becomes hydrolyzed releasing the
polypeptides in the cytoplasm.
The small and large subunits of ribosomes
dissociate for the next translation process.
Genetic Code- sequence of DNA or RNA that
determines the amino acid sequence of
proteins.
ASSIGNMENT: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING ON
A ¼ SHEET OF PAPER.
FRONT OF THE PAPER (Transcription)
1. Synthesis of mRNA is in what direction?
2. Transcription begins when RNA polymerase
binds to?
3. When RNA polymerase reaches a sequence
of nucleotides on the DNA called the
transcription terminator, it causes the RNA
polymerase and mRNA to dissociate from DNA.
TRUE OR FALSE?
4. RNA polymerase copies the template strand
of DNA making single-stranded mRNA
complementary to the DNA template.
TRUE OR FALSE?
5. The complimentary messenger RNA strand
that would be synthesized from DNA base
sequence CTAG would be?
6. The synthesis of messenger RNA is called
translation.
TRUE OR FALSE?
7. Synthesis of a new strand of mRNA is in the
3’ to 5’ direction.
TRUE OR FALSE?
8-10. ENUMERATE THE THREE TYPES OF RNA
WITH COMPLETE MEANING. EXAMPLE mRNA:
what do you mean by m? M….. RNA.
BACK OF THE PAPER (Translation)
1. Give the codons that translates for aspartic
acid
2. If mRNA contains the base sequence
CUGACUAGGUCCGGA
a. give the amino acid sequence of the
polypeptide
b. give the base sequence of the DNA anti-
sense strand from which the mRNA was
transcribed
3. If mRNA contains the base sequence
ACUAAC give the base sequence of the DNA
sense strand.

4. Give the amino acids present in the DNA

strand below

DNA: ACGTTACGGATTACAGTCCCAAACTAC