Chapter Overview Students learn how genetic material is
used by the cell to make new molecules important in trait expression and
heredity. They develop an understanding of
how the genetic code found in DNA drives the structure and function of the
organism through the process of protein synthesis. They build an understanding of the processes of
transcription and translation and the role they play in protein production. Students explore how the structure of nucleic
acids provides a mechanism for storing information needed in building proteins,
which are a key molecule in heredity. Students identify various types of genetic
mutations and examine how these mutations may disrupt the genetic process. Main Ideas ***The structure of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) provides a mechanism to store and transmit genetic information. ***Mutations may disrupt the genetic process. Misconceptions ***Students may think all
mutations are harmful to the organism, rather than understanding that mutations
are not always harmful and in some cases can be beneficial or simply silent. ***Students may think that
protein synthesis is carried out differently in each species, rather than
understanding that the basics of protein synthesis are the same for all organisms. ***Students may think the
process of protein synthesis is the same as DNA replication, rather than
understanding that they are two separate processes serving different purposes. ***Students may think amino
acids are produced by the process of translation, rather than understanding
that those building blocks are either obtained from diet or synthesized in
other biochemical processes. Vocabulary Protein
synthesis – cellular process used to make
proteins, which includes transcription and translation Transcription
– process of copying DNA into mRNA in gene expression Translation
– process by which mRNA is used to synthesize amino acids Ribosome
– site of protein synthesis (translation)
where amino acids are linked together to build proteins mRNA
(messenger RNA) – coding strand of RNA that carries
genetic information from the DNA to ribosomes where it then specifies how to
build proteins Codon – sequence of three nitrogen bases in mRNA that
codes for an amino acid rRNA
(ribosomal RNA) – noncoding strands of RNA that
serves as the subunits of ribosomes tRNA
(transfer RNA) – noncoding strands of RNA that
carry amino acids to ribosomes Anticodon – sequence of three nitrogen bases on tRNA that
must match with the codon on the mRNA Mutation – change in DNA sequence Notes    Other Valuable Resources  |
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