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DNA Replication, Transcription, and Translation

Central dogma flashcards — enzymes, directionality, codons, and prokaryote/eukaryote notes.

12 cards· by GuruOwl

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  1. 01
    What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
    DNA → RNA (transcription) → protein (translation); DNA also replicates.
    dogma
  2. 02
    DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA in which direction?
    5′ → 3′ (adds nucleotides to the 3′ end).
    replication
  3. 03
    Role of helicase vs primase vs ligase?
    Helicase unwinds; primase lays RNA primers; ligase seals Okazaki fragments / nicks.
    replication
  4. 04
    Why is the lagging strand discontinuous?
    Replication forks open 5′→3′ on one template relative to polymerase direction, producing Okazaki fragments.
    replication
  5. 05
    What does RNA polymerase do in transcription?
    Synthesizes mRNA (or other RNA) complementary to the DNA template strand, 5′ → 3′.
    transcription
  6. 06
    Eukaryotic mRNA processing steps before export?
    5′ cap, poly-A tail, and splicing out introns.
    transcription
  7. 07
    What is a codon?
    A triplet of mRNA bases that codes for one amino acid (or stop).
    translation
  8. 08
    Where does translation occur?
    On ribosomes in the cytoplasm (and rough ER for secreted/membrane proteins in eukaryotes).
    translation
  9. 09
    Role of tRNA in translation?
    Carries a specific amino acid and base-pairs its anticodon with the mRNA codon.
    translation
  10. 10
    Start codon in standard code?
    AUG — codes for methionine (formyl-Met in bacteria initiation).
    translation
  11. 11
    Stop codons (standard)?
    UAA, UAG, UGA — no tRNA amino acid; release factors terminate.
    translation
  12. 12
    Silent vs missense vs nonsense mutation?
    Silent: same AA. Missense: different AA. Nonsense: early stop codon.
    mutations