Topic 2: DNA and Proteins

Lesson 2.2 DNA and Protein Synthesis

This lesson covers:

From Crierie, Greig, Ruthven (2019), this lesson explores the following Science
Understanding components as they appear on p. 17:
A gene consists of a unique sequence of nucleotides that code for a functional protein or an RNA molecule.

• Distinguish between exons and introns as coding and non-coding segments of DNA found in genes
• Describe how both exons and introns are transcribed but only the information contained in exons will be
translated to form a polypeptide

Protein synthesis involves transcription of a gene into messenger RNA (mRNA) and translation of mRNA into an
amino acid sequence at the ribosomes. In eukaryotic cells, transcription occurs in the nucleus.

• Describe and illustrate the role of DNA, mRNA, transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in transcription
and translation
• Describe the relationship between codons, anticodons and amino acids
Genes & Chromosomes

Chromosome

Segment of DNA that contains genes

Gene

Section of a chromosome that codes for a

protein
Exons and Introns

Not all DNA codes for proteins.

DNA

Exon Intron
Ribosomal RNA
Intron Non-coding DNA INTRON RNA Transfer RNA
Micro RNA

Exon Coding DNA

EXON mRNA PROTEIN

Protein synthesis Production of proteins through use of DNA

 Amino
3 important molecules Acid

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Produced when DNA is read in

transcription
Single-stranded
Thymine is replaced with uracil
Sets of bases grouped by three Anti-codon
(codon)
Transfer RNA (tRNA)

DNA Places amino acids in translation to

form proteins
Two complementary strands Consists of an anticodon
Contains genes as sequences of complementary in bases to an mRNA
nitrogen bases codon
Ribosomes

Site of DNA translation.

Made up of ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Amino Acids
20 amino acids
Amino Acids

mRNA codon that codes for a specific

amino acid.

mRNA codons match with tRNA

complementary anticodons

tRNA with anticodon that is complementary

to mRNA codon will place its amino acid
into a polypeptide chain

This polypeptide chain becomes a protein

Protein Synthesis

Two steps:

Transcription Transfer of DNA information into mRNA

Translation mRNA read by ribosomes. Protein formed from aa chain.

Transcription

DNA unravelled by RNA polymerase

enzyme

Coding strand

Template strand

Free mRNA nucleotides align to complementary nucleotides on template strand of

DNA to form single-stranded ‘pre-mRNA’ molecule
Transcription – pre-mRNA to
mRNA

RNA Splicing used to remove introns from

mRNA molecule
Translation

mRNA passes into the cytoplasm and

threads through a ribosome

A start codon initiates polypeptide chain

construction

Each subsequent codon matches with

specific tRNA anticodon, which adds amino
acid to polypeptide chain connected
through bonds (chain elongation)

Stop codon terminates the chain

Further resources

Transcription & Translation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKIpDtJdK8Q

Types of RNA
https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/-Types-of-
RNA-mRNA-rRNA-and-tRNA.aspx