How does DNA transcription and RNA translation occur?

Answer:
Transcription: In the nucleus, DNA is unzipped by DNA helicase. This DNA is then copied by DNA polymerase III to form a new copy of RNA. The RNA will then leave the nucleus via a nuclear pore and enter the cytoplasm.

Translation: In the cytoplasm, The RNA (which contains A,U,C,G not A.C,T,G like DNA) will bind to a ribosome. Only 2 ribosomes are able to bind to the RNA at any given time. tRNA molecules in the cytoplasm will bind to the complementary bases of the RNA. The tRNA molecules are a triplet codon which recognises a 3 base sequence on the RNA*. This tRNA molecule is also attached to an amino acid, e.g AUG is methionine. As the 2 ribosomes move down the length of the RNA strand 2 tRNA anticodons will be brought in close proximity and so a peptide bond will form between the 2 amino acids attached to them. The ribosomes will move along the entire length of the RNA and a polypeptide is synthesised.

The polypeptide can then be cleaved in several different places to make several different proteins. This is how one length of DNA can code for many different proteins.

*a triplet codon is used as this enables the full 20 amino acids to be coded for. If one base coded for one amino acid there could only eb 4 possible amino acids. If 2 bases coded for an amino acid then there still not be enough possible codes. However when 3 bases are used there are more possible codes than amino acids, this is why one amino acid can have several different base sequence codes.

First answer by ID1206276471. Last edit by Sophie reed. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question].