Translation Notes Sheet

Name: Period: Date: 1-25-21
From DNA to Proteins

Learning Objectives: Students will (1) summarize the steps of translation and (2) explain the
relationship between genes and proteins.
Essential Question: Suppose the DNA sequence GCTATATCG was changed to GCGATATCG.
 How would the products of transcription and translation be affected?
 How does the DNA nucleotide sequence determine the amino acid sequence in a protein?
WHAT IS THE GENETIC CODE?

The “language” of mRNA instructions to make proteins is called the Genetic code. Recall
that RNA contains four different bases: A, U, G, and C. The genetic code is read three
letters at a time, so that each “word” is three bases long. Each three-letter word is known as
codon. A codon consists of three consecutive nucleotides that specify a single
amino acid that is to be added to the polypeptide. Because there are four
different bases,
there are 64 possible three-base codons (4x4x4=64).

The Universal Genetic Code chart shows the amino
acids to which each of the possible codons
correspond.
HOW DOES A CELL INTERPRET DNA?

Consider the following RNA sequence:
5’
UCGCACGGU3’
This sequence will be read three bases at a
time as: U C G - C A C – G G U
The codons represent the following amino-acids:
Ser – His - Gly
Let’s Practice
Consider the following RNA sequence and identify the amino acids it will code for.
5’
A U G C G C U U C U A A 3’
Met - Arg – Phe -Stop
Consider the following DNA sequence and identify the amino acids it will code for.
3’
C T T G G A A T G 5’
Glu – Pro - Tyr
WHAT IS TRANSLATION?
The decoding of an mRNA message into a
polypeptide chain is known as translation. Translation
takes place on ribosomes. During translation, or protein
synthesis, the cell uses information from messenger RNA
to produce proteins.
The cell uses all three main forms of RNA during
translation.
Recall and Practice: Briefly describe the function of all
three types of RNA.
mRNA: mRNA carries copies of genetic instructions.
tRNA: During the constructions of a protein, tRNA transfers each amino acid to the ribosome as
it is specified by the code in mRNA
rRNA: Proteins are assembled on ribosomes and the ribosomesare made of several dozen
proteins.
HOW DOES TRANSLATION WORK?

mRNA is transcribed in the nucleus , and then it enters the cytoplasm. Translation begins
when a ribosome binds to mRNA at a specific area (AUG). The ribosome starts matching tRNA
anticodon sequences to the mRNA codon sequence. Each tRNA carries 2 kinds of amino acids.
Each time a new tRNA comes into the ribosome, the amino acid that it was carrying gets
added to the elongating polypeptide chain. The ribosome continues until it hits a stop sequence,
and then it releases the polypeptide and the mRNA. The polypeptide forms into its native shape
and starts acting as a functional protein in the cell.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Essential Question: Suppose the DNA sequence GCTATATCG was changed to
GCGATATCG.
 How would the products of transcription and translation be affected?
 How does the DNA nucleotide sequence determine the amino acid sequence in a
protein?
The transcription would produce mRNA with the 3 rd base C instead of A. Translation would be
unaffected because it would still get arginine. The DNA nucleotides code for codons on an
mRNA strand in transcription. The codons then pair with a tRNA molecule that holds an amino
acid. The amino acids then form a chain in the sequence of the DNA nucleotide sequence.
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
The synthesis of proteins is a carefully orchestrated and controlled process that

begins with a coded message on a DNA molecule. A portion of the DNA molecule is
transcribed into mRNA. mRNA contains the instructions for a protein to be built on the
ribosomes. The cell goes to a lot of trouble to synthesize proteins correctly because
proteins define what the cell look like, how it functions, how it grows, and how it passes
this information to its daughter cells. Some of the specific roles played by proteins
include enzymatic action, transport, motion, protection, support, communication, and
regulation.
1. Given the following strand fragments of nucleic acids, identify the polypeptide chains they
will code.
a. ACCTAGCGC c. TTCCGCGAA
W-I-A K-A-L
b. AAGGUCCUU d. GUGGUGAGG
K-A-L V-V-R
2. Use your textbook or notes to put the appropriate labels in the boxes that describe the
process of translation.
polypeptide chain (7) DNA (1) tRNA (4) mRNA (2)
codon (6) ribosome (8) amino acid (5) anticodon (3)
I wasn’t able to lable the picture directly so I put the corresponding numbers

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Name: Period: Date: 1-25-21

From DNA to Proteins

WHAT IS THE GENETIC CODE?

there are 64 possible three-base codons (4x4x4=64).

HOW DOES A CELL INTERPRET DNA?

HOW DOES TRANSLATION WORK?

The synthesis of proteins is a carefully orchestrated and controlled process that

codon (6) ribosome (8) amino acid (5) anticodon (3)

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