THE GENETIC CODE This process is called TRANSCRIPTION

THE GENETIC CODE

This process is called TRANSCRIPTION When a cell needs a particular protein, the gene for that protein is copied in the form of m. RNA.

m. RNA carries the instructions for making the protein to the ribosome where the protein is assembled.

TRANSLATION m. RNA PROTEINS

Translation means to translate English Chinese

TRANSLATION m. RNA monomer in m. RNA? nucleotides PROTEINS monomer in proteins? amino acids

During translation, the information is “translated” nucleotides from the language of m. RNA-- _______ amino acids to the language of proteins -- _______. m. RNA PROTEIN nucleotides amino acids

The m. RNA instructions are written as a series of three-nucleotides called codons. A codon is a three-nucleotide sequence in m. RNA that codes for an amino acid. m. RNA --- U U G G U U A G G C A C G G A codon codon

Each codon along the m. RNA strand corresponds to amino acid (or a start/stop). an ______ Codons

Each codon along the m. RNA strand corresponds to amino acid (or a start/stop). an ______ Amino Acids

We use the following table to: Codon = amino acid Codon CUA AAA GCU UGA Amino Acid Leucine Lysine Alanine Stop Most amino acids are coded for by more than one codon.

The genetic code is the relationship between the set of three nucleotides in m. RNA and the amino acids in proteins. In the genetic code, each amino acid is coded for by three nucleotides in m. RNA.

m. RNA -U U G G U U A G G C A C G G A amino acids -- Leucine Valine Arginine Histidine Glycine 1. Underline the codons in m. RNA 2. Determine amino acids that correspond to codon.

With a few exceptions, the genetic code is the same in all organisms. The codon GUC codes for the amino acid valine in bacteria, in plants, in animals, and in humans. For this reason, the genetic code is said to be universal. The common nature of the genetic code suggests that almost all organisms arose from a common ancestor.