Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

1. Introduction to Genetics

Fundamentals of Genetics

Genetics

1. Introduction to Genetics

Fundamentals of Genetics

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1:46 minutes

Problem 10d

Textbook Question

Define each of the following terms:
Translation

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Translation is the process in molecular biology where the sequence of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule is used to synthesize a specific protein.

This process occurs in the ribosome, which is the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis.

During translation, transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring amino acids to the ribosome, matching their anticodons to the codons on the mRNA sequence.

The ribosome facilitates the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids, creating a polypeptide chain that folds into a functional protein.

Translation is the second step of gene expression, following transcription, and is essential for converting genetic information into functional proteins.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Translation

Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA) templates. During translation, the ribosome reads the sequence of codons in the mRNA, and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the corresponding amino acids to form a polypeptide chain. This process occurs in the cytoplasm and is essential for gene expression, as proteins are crucial for cellular structure and function.

Codons

Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid during protein synthesis. Each codon corresponds to one of the 20 amino acids or serves as a stop signal for translation. The genetic code, which is nearly universal among organisms, dictates how sequences of nucleotides are translated into the amino acid sequences of proteins.

Ribosomes

Ribosomes are complex molecular machines found within all living cells that facilitate the translation of mRNA into proteins. Composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins, ribosomes can be found free in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. They play a critical role in decoding the mRNA sequence and catalyzing the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids, thus building proteins.

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