Work through the list without notes (a genetic code table is allowed). If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can state where translation happens in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the rough ER. (Guide: “Where translation happens”)
- I can explain why prokaryotes can translate an mRNA while it is still being transcribed. (Guide: “Where translation happens”; Practice Q1)
- I can describe initiation, elongation and termination, including the role of rRNA at the start codon and what happens at a stop codon. (Guide: “Three stages of translation”; Figure 1)
- I can explain how a tRNA’s anticodon makes sure the correct amino acid is added. (Guide: “The players”; Practice Q3)
- I can describe the steps by which a retrovirus copies its RNA into DNA and gets its genes expressed. (Guide: “A special case: retroviruses”; Practice Q4)
Skills
- I can translate an mRNA with a code table, starting at AUG and stopping at a stop codon. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q2)
- I can write the anticodon for a codon, and the codon for an anticodon, with correct 5′ and 3′ labels. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q3)
- I can count codons and amino acids from nucleotide positions or lengths, remembering the stop codon. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q6, Q7)
- I can analyse protein synthesis data, calculate percentage changes and interpolate between points. (Practice Q5)
Reasoning
- I can explain why a nearly universal genetic code is evidence for common ancestry. (Guide: “Why a shared code points to common ancestry”; Practice Q7)
- I can use the redundancy of the code to predict whether a codon change alters a polypeptide. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q6)
- I can predict the effect of blocking a step in information flow, such as reverse transcriptase or the ribosome. (Practice Q4, Q5)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 6.5, Regulation of Gene Expression, or return to the course roadmap.