Translation Wrap Up

I see that we have some very different levels of understanding going on with Transcription and Translation.  I felt that it was worth the time to take one more day of going over both of these processes.  I passsed back the RNA and Gene Expression Open notes quiz and went over all the answers.  After that we looked a a few multiple choice daily questions that lead us into our next discussion.  WHAT does this have to do with us.  Well..... lets see here

DQ #1:  A change in the order of DNA bases that codes for a respiratory protein will most likely cause
C.  A change in the sequence of amino acids determined by the gene.
**** Remember - DNA provides instructions, if that DNA is "messed up" the RNA that it codes for will be messed up and ULTIMATELY what will happen is it will be read differently and the sequence of amino acids will change.  This is a little introduction to how mutations work.

DQ #2:  Even though each body cell is an individual contains the same DNA, the functions of muscle cells and liver cells are NOT the same because
D.  Liver cells use different genes than muscle cells
***The DNA is EVERY one of our cells is exactly the same (it was the same 46 chromosomes that were united in the zygote during fertilization).  Gene expression though is controled by a specific set of factors

DQ#3:  The cells that make up the skin of an individual have some functions different from teh cells that make up the liver because
D.  Different Parts of Genetic instructions are used in different types of cells.

After going over the quiz and daily questions I had you watch the following clip that sums up both transcription and translation.  This is a good visual to help you understand how and where all of this is occuring in our cells.

Transcription Wrap Up

Today we started with the following daily Questions and explanations

Monday April 23^rd

*The Process by which DNA is coded into RNA is known as Transcription

*In Eukaryotic cells this occurs in the nucleus

*The place on the DNA where this process begins is known as a Promotor Site

*What Enzyme attaches itself this part of the DNA? RNA polymerase

*Where does this enzyme STOP on the DNA molecule? Site of Termination

I then showed you how and where transcription occurs

The rest of the period we worked on a handout wrapping up transcription and another that takes a look into translation which we will start in to tomorrow!!