Transcription
Translation
Replication
Review of Processes
| |
Nucleic Acid Processes
It was mentioned on an earlier page that the synthesis of proteins was
directed by nucleic acids and that DNA was ultimately responsible
for the sequence of amino acids in those proteins. Let's turn our attention now to the
sequence of reactions by which the genetic information in DNA dictates which proteins are
formed and what will be their primary structure.
In this section we will look at three very important processes.
 | Transcription, in which the nucleotide sequence in DNA is transcribed
into a comparable nucleotide sequence in RNA. Note the parallel with languages.
Transcription involves copying without changing the language (the nucleotides A,
C, G, T, U are used in
both). |
| Translation, in which the nucleotide sequence in RNA is translated into
a corresponding amino acid sequence in protein. Again note the parallel with languages.
Translation involves taking a message in one set of letters and words (the nucleotides A,
C, G, U are used in RNA) and
translating it into a different set of letters and words (the amino acids Gly,
Ala, Val, et cetera are used in protein). |
| Replication, in which the nucleotide sequence in DNA is replicated for
use in newly formed cells. |
Top of Page
 |
E-mail instructor:
Sue Eggling
Science Department
19600 South Molalla Avenue
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 657-6958 x 2778
FAX (503) 650-6657TDD (503) 650-6649 |
Distance Learning questions
Clackamas Community College
©2001, 2003 Clackamas Community College, Hal Bender
|
