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Protein Synthesis and Codons Practice

The document outlines the process of protein synthesis, which involves transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of mRNA to proteins via ribosomes. Key points include the definition of codons, their role in specifying amino acids, and the distinction between start and stop codons. It also includes practice exercises for identifying amino acids from codons and vice versa.

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71 views

Protein Synthesis and Codons Practice

The document outlines the process of protein synthesis, which involves transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of mRNA to proteins via ribosomes. Key points include the definition of codons, their role in specifying amino acids, and the distinction between start and stop codons. It also includes practice exercises for identifying amino acids from codons and vice versa.

Uploaded by

drdhonz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:_____________________________________________ Date:_____

Protein Synthesis and Codons Practice


Protein synthesis is the process where a sequence of DNA is used to build a protein from individual amino acids. The first
step in this process is called TRANSCRIPTION, where a coding region of DNA is converted to messenger RNA (mRNA).
During transcription, mRNA is made from the DNA sequence following the base pair rule, except RNA does not contain
the base Thymine, but instead has Uracil. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and goes to a ribosome in the cell's
cytoplasm. The ribosome reads the message three bases at a time, called a CODON. Each codon will specify a single
amino acid. The amino acids are joined together and folded into a protein, a process called TRANSLATION

Key Points

●​ DNA is used to make a copy of mRNA (transcription)


●​ mRNA leaves the nucleus and goes to ribosomes
●​ 3 bases = codon
●​ 1 codon = a single amino acid
●​ A chain of amino acids = a protein
●​ Protein synthesis is also called translation

Biologists use a codon chart or a codon wheel to determine the amino acids. Amino acids are usually abbreviated on
these charts as three letter words, like Cys and Ser.

1. Use the codon chart to write the amino acid that corresponds to each codon found in mRNA:
​
C C C ______________________ A G U ______________________
C A G ______________________ U A C ______________________
G A A ______________________ C G U ______________________
U U U ______________________ C C A ______________________

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2. Write the CODON that corresponds with each amino acid. There may be more than one. The full names are
written, but the codon chart only shows the first three letters.
​
proline ______________________ glycine ______________________
valine ______________________ phenylalanine ______________________
histidine ______________________ arginine ______________________

3. A single codon is used to signal the beginning of protein synthesis. It is commonly called the START
CODON.
Locate the start codon on the chart. What are the three bases of this codon? ________

4. There are three codons that signal the end of synthesis, these are called STOP codons.
What are the three stop codons? ________________________________

5. For each sequence of DNA is shown. Write the complementary RNA sequence underneath the letters, then
use the codon chart to determine the amino acid sequence:

DNA → T A C C A T G G A A G T A C T
​
​ RNA →
​
Amino Acids →

DNA → T T C A A T G G T C T A G G G
​
​ RNA →
​
Amino Acids →

DNA → A C A T T T C A G A C C G T C
​
​ RNA →
​
Amino Acids →

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