Bruce G. Stewart

Your objectives for these Notes on the Web and associated readings and exercises are:

• To define the major types of RNA and how they are made through transcription;
• To describe the structure and function of each type of RNA and where they do their jobs;
• To analyze sequences of mRNA to translate the base code information into an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide;
• To define and explain four steps in translation: charging, initiation, elongation, and termination;
• To explain the concept of control of gene expression;
• To define gene mutation and to give names, definitions, and consequences of at least three types of mutations;
• To describe the genetic and environmental influences that contribute to cancer and to list preventative measures and reasons such measures help prevent cancer;
• To know common terms and facts associated with the topic of the molecular basis of heridity.

Related Textbook Readings:

• For General Biology (BIO 1114) Class only: RNA and protein synthesis is covered in Chapter 13 of Johnson and Losos (2008)
• For General Zoology (ZOO 1114) Class only:  Hickman, et al. (2006) (to be assigned in class)

Reminder about Textbook Study

As with other topics, your textbooks have excellent presentations of the materials on the molecular basis of heridity (including RNA structure and function, protein synthesis, and mutations), including generous excellent illustrations. Check the general objectives above to make sure that you have covered all of the topics in the textbook readings.

The "Testing Yourself" questions will be helpful for general biology students, although many more detailed questions will be included in the lecture exam. Similarly, study questions in the zoology textbook will be helpful review for general zoology students, but again, they are not comprehensive.

As with all materials throughout the semester, you will have opportunities to ask questions or ask that any relevant material from your assignments be discussed in class and/or in threaded discussions on Internet.

Links to Internet Learning Resources on RNA and its Function in Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is a process that is not that complicated; however, it does involve several steps and components. The more ways you can read and study this process, the more likely you will understand it. Here is a "Calculator" site where you can enter your own DNA base sequences and then see the results of transcription and translation. You can then change (mutate) your code to see the consequences in terms of changes in amino acid sequences (i.e. the primary structure of the polypeptide).

DNA to Protein at ThinkQuest

This is the same site as you have previously visited when studying the structure of DNA. Explore its functions which includes one option to see coding that leads to the ordering of amino acids.