Chemistry 104

Lecture #20: Transcription (DNA to mRNA)

Read: pg. 643-647 and 665-672 AND DNA model assignment in Lab book

Be prepared to make a DNA model during lab next week

HW: pg. 662-664 (2c,h, 5b, 6,7,14,25,28,31,32,38,40,48,51)

pg. 672 (1,4,5,6,(7 or 8), 9,13,14)

AND: Exam II corrections and 3 poster ideas

Objectives:

  1. Know that a gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions to synthesize one protein (i.e. peptide). Genes consist of DNA (polymers of nucleotides), carried on chromosomes.
  2. Recall that DNA is found only in the nucleus (except for plasmids and mitochondrial DNA - Another story)!
  3. mRNA is found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm.
  4. Know that mRNA (messenger RNA) copies segments of DNA in the nucleus and carries them to the cytoplasm where proteins are made.

    5. Be able to list 4 differences between DNA and RNA

     

    DNA

    RNA

    a. location

    nucleus

    nucleus and cytoplasm

    b. nitrogen base

    thymine

    uracil

    c. 2o structure

    double helix

    single strand

    d. sugar

    deoxyribose

    ribose

  5. Know that transcription is the transfer of genetic information from DNA to mRNA.

  6. Be able to describe the process of transcription and to write the sequence of complimentary mRNA bases given a segment of DNA.

Protein-DNA interactions

Beginner' Guide to Molecular Biology