Name

Class

Date

13
DNA RNA

RNA and Protein Synthesis

The Role of RNA

1. Complete the table to contrast the structures of DNA and RNA.
Sugar Deoxyribose Number of Strands 2 Bases ATCG

Ribose

AUCG

2. On the lines provided, identify each kind of RNA.

a. Transfer RNA

b Messenger RNA

c.Ribosomal RNA

mRNA

RNA Synthesis
In transcription, RNA polymerase separates the two DNA strands. RNA then uses one strand as a template to make a complementary strand of RNA. RNA contains the nucleotide uracil instead of the nucleotide thymine.
Follow the directions.

1. Label the RNA 2. Label the DNA. 3. Use the key to label the missing nucleotides marked on the diagram.

RNA polymerase

DNA

Key DN RN A = Adenine A A = Adenine A C = Cytosine C = Cytosine G = Guanine G = Guanine T = Thymine U = Uracil

BUILD Vocabulary
Term
Exon

Definition

The part of mRNA that is spliced (reconnected) after the introns are removed. Exons code for amino acids. The parts of mRNA that are cut out. They do not code for amino acids. A RNA copy of a DNA gene.

Intron

Messenger RNA Ribosomal RNA RNA polymerase Transcription

Type of RNA that ribosomes are made of.

Enzyme that copies the DNA gene and builds a complementary RNA

The process of copying DNA into RNA

Transfer RNA

Type of RNA that carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome during translation

RNA Synthesis
In DNA replication a cell copies its DNA. Both strands of the double helix are used as templates to make complementary, or matching, strands of DNA. In DNA transcription a single strand of DNA is used as a template to generate a strand of mRNA.
Follow the directions.

Fill in the missing information. One row has been completed for you.
DNATemplate
TTACGG

Complementary DNA
AATGCC GGCGGC

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

AAUGCC GGCGGC ACGUAG

CCGCCG TGCATC
AGACTC CTATTC GACCGATGT

ACGTAC TCTGAG
GATAAG CTGGCTACA

UCUGAG GAUAAG
CUGGCUACA

The Genetic Code

The diagram below shows the mRNA codes that correspond to amino acids and stop codons. Read the diagram from the center outwards. For example, the mRNA code UAC corresponds to the amino acid tyrosine.
Follow the directions.

In the chart below the diagram, write the name of the amino acid that corresponds to each mRNA code.

mRNA Code
AAA GCG GAU CAA

Amino Acid
lysine ALANINE ASPARTIC ACID GLUTAMINE

BUILD Vocabulary
Term
Anticodon

Definition
The three bases at the bottom of a tRNA that are complementary to a mRNA codon The three bases on mRNA that code for an amino acid

Codon

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids. Proteins are made of one or more polypeptides. The process of reading the mRNA message and building the corresponding polypeptide.

Translation

Phenylalanine

leucine

lysine

methionine

Translation
Use the diagram to answer Questions 1-3.

1. What is the anticodon for leucine? GAC 2. What is the codon for leucine? CUG 3. List the amino acids in the order they would appear in the polypeptide coded for by this mRNA. MET-PHE-LYS-LEU

Types of Mutations
For Questions 14, match the term with its denitio

Definition B A D E 1. The change of one base to another in a DNA sequence 2. A heritable change in genetic information 3. A kind of mutation that can change every amino acid that follows the point of mutation 4. The addition of a base to the DNA sequence Term A. mutation B. substitution C. deletion D. frameshift mutation E. insertion

Types of Mutations
Gene mutations produce a change in one gene. Point mutations produce gene mutations that involve a change in one or more nucleotides. Point mutations also occur at only one point in the DNA sequence. The diagram below shows an original chromosome and three possible point mutations.
Follow the directions.

1. Use the words in the box to add headings to the three lower parts of the diagram.
insertion deletion substitution

Complete the sentences. Use the terms from the box above.

2. In a(n) substitution, one base is changed to a different base. 3. In a(n) insertion, a base is inserted into the DNA sequence. 4. In a(n) deletion, one base is removed from the DNA sequence.
Answer the questions.

5. Which of the following can result in a frameshift mutation? Circle each correct answer. A. deletion B. substitution C. insertion 6. Why is a frameshift mutation more damaging than a substitution? A substitution may change a single amino acid, but a frameshift will alter all the amino acids after an insertion or deletion.