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EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE
Suhay No. 10: RNA
January 4-8, 2020

Name:___________________________ Level and Section:

______________

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this module, you are able to:

 explain the role of messenger RNA and transfer RNA
 distinguish how molecular shape and folding determine RNA function
 describe the pattern and strength of nucleotide bonding in RNA molecules

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. What is the obvious structural difference between DNA and RNA?

2. Do you notice any differences in the nucleotides?
3. What is the fundamental relationship between structure and function in biology?
ACTIVITY LOG

Essential Question/s
Input
Glancing Back
Starter
Focused Discussion
Task 1
Essential Understanding
Learning Log
Self-Evaluation
Enrichment
Point of Clarification
INPUT

Glancing Back
I noticed that you learned well from the previous lesson about “DNA, RNA, and the Flow of
Genetic Information” based on the positive results of your task/activities. Before we start
this weekly lesson let me ask you, How does DNA help with the expression of genetic
information?

Starter

Unlock the terms used in protein synthesis as based on their descriptions given.

TERMS DESCRIPTIONS

1. produced from linear arranged amino

T acids  through the involvement of
ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA,
messenger RNA, and various enzymes.
2.
N carrier of genetic information or the
genes

3. RNA found in the nucleus that are

R responsible to copy the genes in the
DNA

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 4.
S Interpret the coded genes to form amino
acids

5.
C Process of changing DNA molecule →
mRNA molecule

6.
T Process of changing mRNA → tRNA
→amino acid → proteins

7.
C Copy the coded genes of the DNA to
RNA molecule

8.
M D Produced after the interpretation of
coded genes

Focused Discussion

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is an important biological macromolecule that is present in all

biological cells.
It is principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from
DNA, which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and
maintenance of life. In some viruses, RNA, rather than DNA, carries genetic information.

Image Credit: Juan Gaertner/Shutterstock.com

RNA vs DNA
There are two distinct types of nucleic acid: DNA and RNA. The nucleic acid of DNA is
deoxyribose, whereas the nucleic acid of RNA is ribose. As demonstrated by their names, the
deoxyribose of DNA lacks one oxygen molecule as compared to the ribose sugar of RNA. The
nucleotides that comprise DNA include adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T),
whereas RNA nucleotides include A, G, C and uracil (U).
While the structure of DNA is a double-helix in eukaryotic cells, RNA is typically single-stranded
and comes in various forms. The single-stranded structure of RNA allows this molecule to fold
back on itself and form various stable secondary structures as necessary.

Types of RNA and their roles

The type of RNA dictates the function that this molecule will have within the cell. Aside from the
coding region of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that will be translated into proteins, other
cellular RNA elements are involved in different processes, which include transcriptional and
post-transcriptional regulation of genetic material, temperature and ligand sensing, translation
control and RNA turnover.

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Transcription (DNA to mRNA)
Since DNA cannot leave the nucleus, it is unable to generate a protein on its own. The
generation of proteins from their DNA coding sequence begins with a process called
transcription. During transcription, several enzymes, including helicase and topoisomerase,
unwind DNA to provide access to another enzyme known as RNA polymerase. RNA
polymerase travels along the unwound DNA strand to construct the mRNA molecule until it is
ready to leave the nucleus.

Translation (mRNA to protein)

Once mRNA exits the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm of the cell, it will find a ribosome so that
the process of translation can begin. A pair of three nucleotide bases of the mRNA molecule is
referred to as a codon, and each codon is specific for only one amino acid.
During translation, transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, which are attached to a particular amino
acid, will recognize a codon on the mRNA molecule and insert the appropriate amino acid at
that location within the strand. For example, the codon CUC will generate the amino acid
leucine, whereas the codon UGA is one type of stop codon that indicates the translation of the
gene has been completed.  The other two stop codons are UAG and UAA.
Ribosomes contain both proteins and several different ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules. Once
amino acids have been generated, rRNA molecules will move along the mRNA molecule to
catalyze the formation of proteins. It is important to note that mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA all play
important roles in this protein-synthesizing pathway.

That conclude our discussion for this week.

You may now proceed to your Task No 1.

TASK 1

Directions: Read each statement and choose the letter of the correct answer. Shade the circle
that corresponds to the correct answer.
1. It is an molecule known as the carrier of genetic information or the genes
a. DNA c. protein
A B C D b. genes d. RNA
2. Produced from linear arranged amino acids through the involvement of
ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, messenger RNA, and various enzymes.
A B C D a. DNA c. protein
A B C D b. genes d. RNA
3. Interpret the coded genes to form amino acids
a. transcription c. both a and b
b. translation d. none of a and b
4. Copy the coded genes of the DNA to RNA molecule
a. transcription c. both a and b
A B C D b. translation d. none of a and b
5 RNA found in the nucleus that are responsible to copy the genes in the
DNA
A B C D a. DNA c. tRNA
b. rRNA d. mRNA

ESSENTIALUNDERSTANDING

Ribonucleic acid—RNA—is used to translate instructions from DNA to make proteins

in your body.

 Each RNA nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

 Each RNA molecule is typically a single strand, consisting of a relatively short chain of
nucleotides. RNA can be shaped like a single helix, a straight molecule, or may be
twisted upon itself. DNA, in comparison, is double-stranded and consists of a very long
chain of nucleotides.
 In RNA, the base adenine binds to uracil. In DNA, adenine binds to thymine. RNA does
not contain thymine—uracil is an unmethylated form of thymine capable of absorbing
light. Guanine binds to cytosine in both DNA and RNA.

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  There are several types of RNA, including transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger
RNA (mRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). RNA performs many functions in an
organism, such as coding, decoding, regulating, and expressing genes.
 About 5% of the weight of a human cell is RNA. Only about 1% of a cell consists of DNA.
 RNA is found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of humans cells. DNA is only found in
the cell nucleus.
 RNA is the genetic material for some organisms which don't have DNA. Some viruses
contain DNA; many only contain RNA.
 RNA is used in some cancer-gene therapies to reduce the expression of cancer-causing
genes.

LEARNINGLOG

How do you explain RNA?

____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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SELF-EVALUATION

Rate yourself from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest while 5 being the highest) on the level of
understanding that you are able to attain for this module:

1 2 3 4 5

ENRICHMENT

For additional information kindly visit the link given below.

What is RNA?
https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-RNA.aspx#:~:text=Ribonucleic%20acid
%20(RNA)%20is%20an,development%20and%20maintenance%20of%20life.

POINT OF CLARIFICATION

Please write any questions or points of clarification about the content of this module:
____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ ____

REFERENCES

Books
David, O., Albano, P. & Estira, F. (2019). Earth and Life Science. DIWA Learning System Inc.
Second Edition. Makati City
Ramos, J.D.A. and A.C.M. Ramos. (2006) Exploring Life Through Science BIOLOGY. Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc., Quezon City
Rea, M.A.D and N.H.A Dagamac. GENERAL BIOLOGY 2, (2017) ,Rex Book Store Inc., Manila
Digital Source
DNA, RNA, and the Flow of Genetic Information, Retrived from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21171/
Genetic Code, Retrived from, Retrived from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/the-genetic-code/
Genetic Information, Retrived from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-biology1/chapter/reading-genetic-information/

Translation: DNA to mRNA to Protein, Retrived from

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/translation-dna-to-mrna-to-protein-393/

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