05. Making proteins

Outcomes:

> be able to state the difference between DNA and RNA.

> be able to outline the differences between DNA transcription and RNA translation.

> be able to generate amino acid sequences based on the RNA triplet code.

How does DNA code for proteins?

DNA codes for proteins in the following way:

• • DNA in the nucleus unwinds and 'unzips' - the bases are exposed.

  • A copy of the genetic code is taken - the molecule that does this is called mRNA (messenger RNA) - this is called transcription. Why do you think it is called this?

  • mRNA travels out from the nucleus.

  • The mRNA genetic code is 'read' at a ribosome - the order of the bases determines the order in which the amino acids are assembled together to make a protein. This process is called translation. Why do you think it is called this?

Note: in mRNA the base thymine (T) is replaced with a base called uracil (U). Uracil can only transcript adenine (A) in the same way thymine could only hydrogen bond with adenine.

Activity: Follow the teacher instruction and guidance to complete the summary sheets about translation and transcription.

Activity: use the amino acid infographic to help you to complete the mRNA sequence and then the amino acid sequence from a strand of DNA.

Note: you do not need to memorise the names or base coding sequence of the amino acids.

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