Molecular Genetics Transcription
the process where the DNA code is used to make a complementary mRNA strand three main stages: 1. initiation 2. elongation 3. termination
Initiation (Image from: RNA polymerase binds to the promoter sequence
Promoter Sequence right beside the start of a gene (upstream of the gene) recognition site for RNA polymerase to bind to the DNA high in adenine and thymine (easier to break H-bonds)
Elongation (Image from: RNA polymerase opens the double helix synthesizes mRNA by adding ribonucleotides from 5’ to 3’
Elongation the template strand of the DNA is used as a template for making the complementary mRNA strand the coding strand of the DNA is not used for transcription
Termination (Image from: when RNA polymerase reaches the terminator sequence, transcription stops and mRNA is released
(Image from:
Transciption Summary (Image from:
Transcription Animations Simple animation & quiz: hill.com/sites/ /student_view0/cha pter3/animation__mrna_synthesis__transcript ion___quiz_1_.html Slideshow animation of transcription: class.unl.edu/biochem/gp2/m_biology/animati on/gene/gene_a2.html
Transcription Animations Narrated animation & quiz: ent/chp12/ html
Posttranscriptional Modifications in eukaryotic cells, the primary transcript, will need to undergo three modifications before leaving the nucleus
Addition of 5’ Cap (Image from: a 7-methyl guanosine is added to the start of the primary transcript to prevent digestion in the cytoplasm. This is called the 5’cap.
Addition of Poly-A Tail approximately 200 adenine ribonucleotides are added to the 3’ end by poly-A polymerase this is called the poly-A tail.
Removal of Introns the eukaryotic genome consists of coding regions (exons) and non-coding regions (introns) proteins called spliceosomes cut the introns out of the primary transcript and rejoin the exons
Removal of Introns Image from: alternating-regions
mRNA Transcript (Image from: the mRNA is ready to leave the nucleus for translation and it is now called the mRNA transcript
Animation Simple animation of post-transcriptional modifications: _flash.htm