Fundamentals of Biology

This session will explain how the cell uses its DNA instructions to make a RNA message, and the RNA message to make a protein.

• Outline the processes of transcription and translation.
• List the basic components needed to successfully undergo transcription and translation.
• Understand the purpose of the cell’s performing transcription and translation.
• Predict RNA and protein sequences from a given gene.
• Analyze the effects of a DNA mutation on the RNA and protein produced from that DNA.

Session Activities

Lecture Video

Watch the lecture video excerpt

Check Yourself

Session Activities

Lecture Video

Watch the lecture video excerpt

Check Yourself

Question 1

True or False: More than one codon typically encodes each amino acid.

Question 2

Where does translation begin, as indicated on the mRNA transcript?

Question 3

If the following were a complete mRNA, which codon would be recognized as the stop codon?
5' UAAUGCUGACUAGUUAAGCCCGAGCGAA-3'

Session Activities

Help Session Video

Watch the short video of Sera Thornton explaining a transcription and translation question that refers to Question 2 in the practice problems below.

Practice Problems

• Problems (PDF)
• Solutions (PDF)

Further Study

Useful Links

• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1968
• Transcription Animation (Basic)
• Transcription Animation (Advanced)
• Translation Animation (Basic)
• Translation Animation (Advanced)
• Triplet Code Animation

Course Info

Instructors

• Prof. Eric Lander
• Prof. Robert Weinberg
• Prof. Tyler Jacks
• Prof. Hazel Sive
• Prof. Graham Walker
• Prof. Sallie Chisholm
• Dr. Michelle Mischke

Departments

As Taught In

Level

Topics

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