KEY CONCEPT Protein Synthesis is the process of assembling amino acids to make proteins.

DNA carries the “code of life” The code is carried by the order of the N bases 3 DNA N-bases is called a triplet Transcription converts these triplets into codons on the mRNA Translation converts mRNA codons into a string of amino acids using tRNAs.

Each codon represents one amino acid. Codons Each codon represents one amino acid. Segment of DNA: codon for methionine (Met) leucine (Leu)

See page 244 in your textbook: Methionine is the only start code There are 3 stop codons All living things have the same codons/amino acids. The genetic code matches each RNA codon with its amino acid or function.

Protein Synthesis Transcription DNA makes mRNA which carries the code for one protein. mRNA leaves the nucleus and goes to the ribosome in the cytoplasm Translation tRNA “translates” the code on the mRNA by bringing the correct amino acid to the right spot on the mRNA.

tRNA’s carry only 1 type of amino acid An anticodon is a set of three nucleotides on a tRNA that is complementary to an mRNA codon.

tRNA bonds to a start codon and signals the ribosome to assemble. tRNAs bring amino acids to the mRNA and drop them off

tRNAs leave to find other amino acids. tRNAs continue to drop off amino acids until they reach the stop codon; then the ribosome releases the protein.