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Transcription. Central Dogma of Biology. Information flows from DNA RNA Proteins Think of it as exchanging money in a different country: proteins cannot be built directly from DNA Three main processes involved: Replication (copies DNA) Transcription : DNA RNA
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Central Dogma of Biology • Information flows from DNA RNA Proteins • Think of it as exchanging money in a different country: proteins cannot be built directly from DNA • Three main processes involved: • Replication (copies DNA) • Transcription: DNA RNA • Translation: RNA Protein
RNA vs. DNA • 3 main differences: • Sugar is called ribose (DNA has deoxyribose) • Uracil (U) instead of thymine • pairs with adenine (A) • Single-stranded
RNA Molecules • 3 major types • Messenger RNA (mRNA): codes for proteins • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): part of the ribosome • Transfer RNA (tRNA): helps read the mRNA code to build proteins during the process of translation
What is Transcription? • Transcription is a process that uses a portion of DNA to make a complementary RNA strand • Similar to replication • Just one gene at a time is transcribed, not the whole DNA molecule
Transcription Process • 3 basic steps, just as in replication: • Part of DNA double helix unwinds (initiation) • Complementary RNA bases are assembled (elongation) • Completed RNA strand detaches from DNA (termination)
Initiation • RNA polymerase finds the beginning of a gene • A transcription complex made of RNA polymerase and other enzymes begins to unwind part of the DNA strand
Elongation • RNA polymerase uses the DNA strand as a pattern to build a complementary RNA strand • C pairs with G • A pairs with U • RNA strand hangs off the DNA strand, and DNA helix zips back together
Termination • After the whole gene has been transcribed, the RNA strand detaches completely from the DNA. • The transcription complex made of RNA polymerase and other proteins falls apart.
Transcription Practice • Write a DNA sequence 6 bases long • Write the complementary strand, showing H bonds between bases • Count how many of each base are in your DNA molecule. How does this relate to Chargaff’s rule? • List 3 differences between DNA and RNA • Circle one DNA strand. Simulate transcription by writing its complementary RNA sequence. • Does the RNA strand more closely resemble the DNA strand from which it was transcribed or the complementary strand that wasn’t used? Why? • What is the main enzyme involved in transcription? What is its function? • List 3 types of RNA and briefly describe each one.