Genetic Coding, Expression, Transcription and Translation

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Question #101: Genetic coding, expression, transcription and translation

Genes are past down from generation to generation and provide genetic coding for each individual and organism. They contain instructions for building proteins (Freeman). DNA and RNA are involved in the genetic up keep of the hereditary information. The hereditary information is then expressed by involving two kinds of products, which include transcription and translation of the genetic coding of DNA or RNA.

DNA and RNA are the genetic information that organisms with hold. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) contains four nucleotides, 5-carbon sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogen bases carrying genetic information of the cell. The strands of DNA, one end having unlinked 5’ carbon and the other end having 3’ carbon, have direction and polarity (Freeman). DNA contains the bases guanine, cytosine, adenine, and thymine. On the other hand RNA (ribonucleic acid) contains nucleotides having sugar ribose and is usually single stranded. RNA contains the bases guanine, cytosine, adenine, and uracil. Some of the components of RNA that allows it to function are have the components of ribosomes (rRNA), transporting amino acids (tRNA), and translating the message of the DNA code (mRNA) (Freeman).

The first step in converting or copying genetic information is by the process called transcription. Transcription occurs in the nucleus of the eukaryotic cell and begins when the sigma is binded to the promoter of the start of the gene (Freeman). Next, the RNA polymerase unwinds part of the DNA and interprets the mRNA (which holds the encoded information) adding ribonucleotides complementary to the DNA strand (Freeman). Finally, transcription ends with a terminational signal ...

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...e repressor system is essentially the operator of the protein encodings. It is encoded by “lacI that is binded to DNA and prevents transcription of lacZ, lacy, and lacA” (Freeman). The inducer system interacts with the repressor system and changes the overall shape of the repressor.

Genetic coding is unique, different, and expressed for every organism. The two main kinds of products that come from gene expression as a result are transcription and translation. Transcription is the process of making a copy of the DNA strand of the organism. Translation transfers the information to the different sites with the help of mRNA. The genetic coding is expressed and controlled throughout the prokaryotic cell and determines each organism.

Works Cited

Freeman, Scott. Biological Science. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2008. 43-57,68-71,82-92. Print.

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