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

11. Translation

Translation

Genetics

11. Translation

Translation

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1:50 minutes

Problem 39j

Textbook Question

Answer the following questions about the accompanying diagram.

Which end of the polypeptide is closest to G?

Verified step by step guidance

Examine the diagram provided. It illustrates the process of translation in genetics, where a polypeptide chain is synthesized based on the mRNA sequence. The labeled components include DNA (A), mRNA (C), ribosomes (D, E, F), and the growing polypeptide chain (G).

Understand the directionality of translation. Translation proceeds from the 5' end of the mRNA to the 3' end, and the polypeptide is synthesized from the N-terminus (amino end) to the C-terminus (carboxyl end).

Identify the labeled components in the diagram. The mRNA strand (C) is being translated by ribosomes (D, E, F), and the polypeptide chain (G) is shown growing from the ribosomes.

Determine the orientation of the polypeptide chain. The end of the polypeptide closest to the ribosome where translation is actively occurring (E) is the N-terminus, as new amino acids are added to the C-terminus during synthesis.

Conclude that the end of the polypeptide closest to G is the N-terminus, as G represents the growing polypeptide chain being synthesized from the ribosome.

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Key Concepts

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

Polypeptide Structure

A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, forming the building blocks of proteins. The sequence and arrangement of these amino acids determine the polypeptide's structure and function. In the context of translation, the polypeptide is synthesized from the amino (N) terminus to the carboxyl (C) terminus, which is crucial for understanding the orientation of the polypeptide in the diagram.

Translation Process

Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using messenger RNA (mRNA) as a template. During translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA sequence in codons, each corresponding to a specific amino acid. The polypeptide chain grows as amino acids are added sequentially, starting from the N-terminus and extending towards the C-terminus, which is essential for interpreting the diagram's directionality.

Directionality of Polypeptides

Polypeptides have inherent directionality, with one end designated as the N-terminus (amino end) and the other as the C-terminus (carboxyl end). This directionality is critical for protein synthesis and function, as it influences how the polypeptide folds and interacts with other molecules. In the provided diagram, identifying which end is closest to point G requires understanding this directional aspect.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Organisms of all three domains of life usually use the mRNA codon AUG as the start codon.

Despite AUG being the most common start codon sequence, very few proteins have methionine as the first amino acid. Why is this the case?

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Textbook Question

Organisms of all three domains of life usually use the mRNA codon AUG as the start codon.

Do organisms of the three domains use the same amino acid as the initial amino acid in translation? Identify similarities and differences.

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Textbook Question

Answer the following questions about the accompanying diagram.

Does the diagram depict molecular activity in a bacterium or a eukaryote? Explain the reasoning for your answer.

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Textbook Question

Answer the following questions about the accompanying diagram.

What process(es) are illustrated in the diagram?

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Textbook Question

Answer the following questions about the accompanying diagram.

Indicate where fMet is located in the string to the right of G.

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Textbook Question

Answer the following questions about the accompanying diagram.

What name is given to the object looking like a string of beads that is closest to F?

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Textbook Question

For the sequences given in the following list, indicate whether DNA replication, transcription, pre-mRNA processing, or translation will be most immediately affected by deletion of the sequence. As precisely as you can, specify what step of the process is directly affected by the deletion.

a. start codon

b. TATA box

c. 5' splice site

d. ori sequence

e. -10 consensus sequence

f. Shine–Dalgarno sequence

g. 5' cap

h. termination sequence

543

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Multiple Choice

During protein synthesis, when does translation stop?