FROM GENES TO PROTEINS

Name _____________________
Directions:
Complete the table by checking the correct column for each statement.

Statement DNA RNA

1. Contains ribose ✓
2. Composed of a double chain of nucleotides ✓
3. Contains Deoxyribose ✓
4. Contains Uracil ✓
5. Contains Thymine ✓
6. Composed of a single chain of nucleotides ✓

1. Label the diagram by completing the sequence of nitrogen bases in the

mRNA. Use these letters: A, U, C, G, T.

DNA Chain

UC G A A U C G C G U A U U G
mRNA Chain

2. What is it that acts as a template for making RNA? RNA polymerase uses
one of the DNA strands as a template to make a new complementary RNA_____
molecule._________________________________________________________
3. What is meant by transcription? The process of copying a sequence of DNA
to produce a complementary strand of RNA______________________________

4. What are two types of RNA? messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA__
(tRNA).__________________________________________________________

5. Which type of RNA is transcribed from DNA and contains the code for
polypeptide formation? pre-mRNA is transcribed from DNA and encoded by___
original gene to build polypeptide._____________________________________

6. What is the difference between an intron and an exon? An intron is the__

part of the mRNA that gets cut out and does NOT code for proteins while the___
exons are the part that get linked together and go on to be translated into______
proteins._________________________________________________________

7. What happens to mRNA after processing is complete? mRNA leaves the

nucleus and attaches to a ribosome in the cytoplasm for translation.__________
II. Directions:
Use this sheet to practice using the table below which will be used to decipher
the genetic code.

DNA Coding Strand mRNA tRNA Amino acid

A U A Cysteine (Cys)
C G C
A U A
A U A Tyrosine (Tyr)
T A U
G C G
T A U Isoleucine (Ile)
A U A
G C G
G C G Glutamine (Gln)
T A U
T A U
T A U Asparagine (Asn)
T A U
A U A
T A U Serine (Ser)
C G C
G C G
C G C Glycine (Gly)
C G C
C G C
G C G Leucine (Leu)
A U A
A U A
C G C Glycine (Gly)
C G C
T A U