Chapter 40: Problem 1
Babel fish. Why is protein synthesis also called translation?
Short Answer
Expert verified
Protein synthesis is called translation because it decodes mRNA into amino acids, akin to translating languages.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis is a biological process where cells generate new proteins. This process is essential for cell structure and function throughout an organism's body.
02
Define Translation in Biological Context
In the context of biology, translation is one of the critical stages of protein synthesis. It refers specifically to the process where the genetic code carried by mRNA is decoded to produce a specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain or protein.
03
Analyze the Term 'Translation'
The term 'translation' is used metaphorically, similar to how languages are translated. In this biological process, the 'language' of nucleic acids (mRNA) is 'translated' into the 'language' of proteins (amino acids).
04
Linking the Concepts
In protein synthesis, genetic information coded in DNA is transcribed into mRNA, which then exits the nucleus to the ribosome in the cytoplasm where translation occurs. Here, the mRNA sequence is translated into a chain of amino acids, forming a protein based on the genetic instructions.
05
Concluding the Explanation
Therefore, protein synthesis is called translation because it involves translating the information encoded in the nucleotide sequence of mRNA into an amino acid sequence of a protein, effectively acting like a language translation but in a biological context.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Translation in Biology
Translation in biology refers to the process by which a cell assembles proteins. It is a crucial step in the journey from a gene to a functional protein. This process occurs in the ribosome, a cellular structure that reads the instructions encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules.
Think of translation in biology as a way of interpreting a message. Here, the genetic message in the mRNA is translated into a different language - the language of proteins. This involves converting nucleotide triplet sequences, known as codons, into a sequence of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Understanding how translation operates gives insight into how genes control biological functions through proteins, influencing everything from metabolism to growth and repair.
Think of translation in biology as a way of interpreting a message. Here, the genetic message in the mRNA is translated into a different language - the language of proteins. This involves converting nucleotide triplet sequences, known as codons, into a sequence of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Understanding how translation operates gives insight into how genes control biological functions through proteins, influencing everything from metabolism to growth and repair.
mRNA
Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays an essential role in protein synthesis. mRNA is a single-stranded molecule transcribed from DNA, and it acts as a template for translation. It carries the genetic code copied from the DNA in the form of a series of codons. Each codon consists of three nucleotides and corresponds to a specific amino acid.
The process begins in the cell's nucleus where DNA is transcribed into mRNA. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm, where it binds to the ribosome. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA strand, it reads the codons and translates the sequence into a chain of amino acids, forming a protein.
mRNA is crucial because it bridges the gap between the fixed genetic information in DNA and the dynamic protein production inside the ribosome.
The process begins in the cell's nucleus where DNA is transcribed into mRNA. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm, where it binds to the ribosome. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA strand, it reads the codons and translates the sequence into a chain of amino acids, forming a protein.
mRNA is crucial because it bridges the gap between the fixed genetic information in DNA and the dynamic protein production inside the ribosome.
Genetic Code
The genetic code is the set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded in genetic material (DNA or mRNA sequences) into proteins. This code is universal, shared by almost all organisms on Earth, which highlights its fundamental role in biology.
Each triplet of nucleotides, known as a codon, specifies a particular amino acid. There are 64 codons in total, but only 20 amino acids, which means several codons can correspond to the same amino acid. This redundancy helps mitigate the effects of mutations in the DNA sequence.
Understanding the genetic code is like understanding an international language in biology. It ensures that genetic information is consistently and accurately translated to produce the proteins necessary for life.
Each triplet of nucleotides, known as a codon, specifies a particular amino acid. There are 64 codons in total, but only 20 amino acids, which means several codons can correspond to the same amino acid. This redundancy helps mitigate the effects of mutations in the DNA sequence.
Understanding the genetic code is like understanding an international language in biology. It ensures that genetic information is consistently and accurately translated to produce the proteins necessary for life.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and they play a vital role in translating the genetic code from mRNA into functional proteins. There are 20 different amino acids, each with a unique set of properties.
During translation, these amino acids are linked together in a specific sequence dictated by the mRNA's codons. The sequence in which they are assembled determines the protein's structure and function. The order and type of amino acids in a protein influence its shape and stability, which in turn determines how the protein interacts with other molecules.
Amino acids must be aligned perfectly for proteins to function correctly, underscoring their significance in the protein synthesis process. This precise arrangement results from the interpretation of the genetic code carried by mRNA.
During translation, these amino acids are linked together in a specific sequence dictated by the mRNA's codons. The sequence in which they are assembled determines the protein's structure and function. The order and type of amino acids in a protein influence its shape and stability, which in turn determines how the protein interacts with other molecules.
Amino acids must be aligned perfectly for proteins to function correctly, underscoring their significance in the protein synthesis process. This precise arrangement results from the interpretation of the genetic code carried by mRNA.
