RNA & Protein Synthesis

RNA

• RNA is a nucleic acid.
• It uses a ribose group instead of a deoxyribose group.
• Uracil is not used, Thymine is used in its place.
• RNA is single-stranded.

There are 3 types of RNA:

1. Messenger RNA (mRNA)-carries messages from the nucleus to ribsomes to make protein.
2. Transfer RNA (tRNA)-carries the correct amino acid to the ribosome.
3. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-is found in the ribosome itself.

Protein Synthesis

There are two processes that our cells use to makes proteins from DNA.

1. Transcription-is the production of RNA from DNA, this part of protein synthesis occurs in the nucleus.
2. Translation-the production of protein from RNA, this part of protein synthesis occurs in ribosomes.

*You have to transcribe the DNA into RNA before you translate RNA into protein!

Okay, there's actually a lot more to this whole protein synthesis thing, so check these links out!

This one is on protein synthesis:

• http://www.ncc.gmu.edu/dna/ANIMPROT.htm

This one covers just translation:

• http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072437316/student_view0/chapter15/animations.html#

These two are interactive sites:

• Interactive Protein Synthesis: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/transcribe/ 
• Transcription Game: http://library.thinkquest.org/20465/g_DNATranscription.html