Questions

1. Identify your DNA and mRNA sequence which leads to the amino acid sequence
written above
: mRNA SEQUENCE : AUG-UCC-UUA-AGA-UAG
DNA SEQUENCE: TAC-AGG-AAT-TCT-ATC

2. Why is there more than one possible DNA sequence leading to the amino acid
sequence given?
: The genetic code is a set of rules defining how the four-letter code of DNA is translated
into the 20-letter code of amino acids. The genetic code is broken into a series of
three-nucleotides called codons which consists of the four nucleotides found in mRNA-
A,U,G and C. There are 64 possible different combinations and each codon corresponds
to a specific amino acid or stop signal. Of these 64 codons, 61 represent amino acids and
the remaining three represent stop signals. Since there are only 20 different amino acids
found in the human body but 64 possible codons, single amino acids may be coded for
by more than one codon, hence it is why there is a great possibility that more than one
possible DNA sequence can lead to a particular amino acid.

3. Why is protein synthesis important?

: Protein synthesis is the creation of proteins by cells that includes the use of DNA, RNA
as well as the process of transcription and transpiration, which occurs in the nucleus of
the cell. Protein synthesis is a vital process because proteins make up the structural
components of cells and tissues as well as enzymes, hormones, muscles and even the
active proteins secreted from immune cells, which allow organisms’ bodies to perform
important functions such as repairing and building body’s tissues, muscles and bones,
and allowing metabolic reactions to take place within bodies.

4. Why is mRNA and DNA important in protein synthesis?

: DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries genetic information for the
development and functioning of an organism. mRNA, or Messenger RNA, is a molecule
that contains the instructions that directs the cells to stimulate the process of protein
synthesis. Both mRNA and DNA play an important role for the process of transcription
and translation during protein synthesis. During transcription, the DNA of a gene serves
as a template for complementary base-pairing. A gene on the DNA strand provides the
information required to make the polypeptide in the form of a designated sequence of
nucleotide bases which determines which polypeptides are synthesised. The hereditary
information stored by DNA is what is copied onto a RNA molecule, and mRNA is
 synthesised in the nucleus using the nucleotide sequence of DNA as a template during
transcription. Transcription of protein synthesis practically means the process of copying
out the DNA sequence of a gene in the RNA, thus without DNA, the synthesis of protein
cannot be processed. In translation, each molecule of mRNA encodes the information
for one protein with each sequence of three nitrogenous bases (triplets or codons) in
the mRNA specifying the incorporation of a particular amino acid within the protein. At
these mRNA molecules carrying a transcribed copy of the relevant instructions, they get
transported from the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm where it directs the
assembly of a specific sequence of amino acids to form the gene’s protein, and signals
the ribosomes what amino acid are needed in a specific protein and what order to put
them in, which is what the process of translation is called, thus without mRNA,
translation process cannot be stimulated and protein synthesis will be impossible to
occur. The synthesis of protein is governed by the information in its DNA, with the help
of messengers RNA which concludes that DNA and mRNA are highly important in protein
synthesis

Bibliography

(n.d.). Ribosomes, Transcription, and Translation [Review of Ribosomes, Transcription, and Translation].
Scitable . Retrieved November 19, 2023, from
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/ribosomes-transcription-and-translation-14120660/

(n.d.). Protein synthesis [Review of Protein synthesis]. Biology Online . Retrieved November 18, 2023,
from https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/protein-synthesis

Bailey, R. (2019, October 7). DNA Replication Steps and Process [Review of DNA Replication Steps and
Process]. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/dna-replication-3981005‌

(n.d.). From DNA to RNA [Review of From DNA to RNA]. National Library of Medicine . Retrieved
November 16, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26887/

(n.d.). Scitable [Review of Scitable ]. The Information in DNA Determines Cellular Function via
Translation. Retrieved November 17, 2023, from
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-information-in-dna-determines-cellular-function-65232
28/#:~:text=Because%20there%20are%20only%2020,amino%20acid%20or%20stop%20codon.)

Clancy, S., & Brown, W. (n.d.). Translation: DNA to mRNA to Protein (B. Moss, Ed.) [Review of Translation:
DNA to mRNA to Protein]. Scitable . Retrieved November 19, 2023, from
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/translation-dna-to-mrna-to-protein-393/#:~:text=During%2
0transcription%2C%20the%20enzyme%20RNA,encoded%20by%20the%20original%20gene
NOTES

- Genetic code is used as a template for polypeptide synthesis

- Cell uses the genes to synthesis proteins
- Involves two key process
● Transcription: the process by which the information on the DNA is copied onto
an RNA molecule ( DNA is copied to RNA)
● Translation: the RNA molecule serves as a code for the formation of an
amino-acid chain (a polypeptide) (RNA is used to produce proteins)
- End- product of polypeptide synthesis is
● Enzymes that carry out biochemical reactions inside cells
● Structural proteins that maintain the shape and stability of cells
● Signalling proteins that relay essays within a cell
● Hormones that communicate between cells

Modelling the process of polypeptide synthesis

Transcription
- During transcription, enzymes called RNA polymerases build RNA molecules that are
complementary to a portion of one strand of the DNA double helix
- In transcription, the mRNA strand forms from the template strand as read by RNA
polymerase. This is then sent out through the nucleic envelope towards the ribosomes.
Without mRNA, the DNA code specifying the sequence of amino acids would not form.
Thus, mRNA is of vital importance to the transcription process, and for polypeptide
synthesis.
- During transcription, the primary transcript(pre- mRNA) is first formed by the enzyme
RNA polymerase. Pre-mRNA is then processed to form mature mRNA, which is a
single-stranded complementary copy of the coding DNA. The mature mRNA travels from
the nucleus to the cytosol where it binds to ribosomes ready for translation
- During transcription, the DNA of a gene serves as a template for complementary base-pairing, and an enzyme
called RNA polymerase II catalyzes the formation of a pre-mRNA molecule, which is then processed to form
mature mRNA (Figure 1). The resulting mRNA is a single-stranded copy of the gene, which next must be
translated into a protein molecule.

STEPS

Initiation
- RNA polymerase binds to a sequence of DNA called the promoter
 - Once bound, RNA polymerase separates and unwind the DNA strands,
providing the single-stranded template needed for transcription
(production of proteins)
Elongation
- One strand of DNA, the template strand, acts as a template for RNA
polymerase.
- As it reads the template one base at a time, the polymerase builds an
RNA molecule out of complementary nucleotides, making a chain that
from 5’ to 3’
- The RNA transcript carries the same information as the non-template
strand of DNA

Termination
- Terminators signal that the RNA transcript is complete
- Once they are transcribed, they cause the transcript to be released from
the RNA polymerase

Translation
- During translation, which is the second major step in gene expression, the mRNA is
"read" according to the genetic code, which relates the DNA sequence to the amino acid
sequence in proteins. Each group of three bases in mRNA constitutes a codon, and each
codon specifies a particular amino acid (hence, it is a triplet code). The mRNA sequence
is thus used as a template to assemble—in order—the chain of amino acids that form a
protein
- Summary of STEPS: The ribosome gets together with the mRNA and the first tRNA.
Amino acids are brought to the ribosome by tRNAs and linked together to form a chain.
The finished polypeptide is released to go

STEPS

- The mRNA strand binds to a ribosome at the end with the ‘start’ codon
AUG
- Amino acid methionine (which is carried by tRNA) and anticodon UAC
bind to the ‘start’ codon on the mRNA within the ribosome
- A second tRNA binds to the next codon. Its amino acid links with a
peptide bond to the first amino acid
 - The first tRNA is released from the ribosome. The ribosome moves along
the mRNA strand one codon at a time.
- Two tRNAs at a time re temporarily bound within the ribosome and their
amino acids linked -> a polypeptide chain forms
- When a ‘stop’ codon is reached, the polypeptide chain is released int the
cytoplasm

TRANSCRIPTION

1. RNA polymerase attaches to the promoter region of a gene on a strand of DNA

2. Dna strands separate, exposing nucleotides ready for copying
3. mRNA pairs with a DNA template strand
4. Nucleotides are added until RNA polymerase reaches a termination sequence in the
DNA and releases mRNA
5. mRNA moves out of the nucleus, through nuclear pores, into cytoplasm

TRANSLATION- occurs in cytoplasm, produces an amino acid chain from a strand of mRNA

1. A ribosome binds with a start codon in mRNA. The start codon is AUG
2. tRNA has a complementary anticodon that attaches to a corresponding mRNA codon.
tRNA carries an amino acid
3. As the ribosome moves along the strand of mRNA, more amino acids are added to the
growing chain
4. At the STOP codon, the ribosome releases the mRNA and an amino acid chain
5. The amino acid chain folds into a three dimensional shape called, a protein.