reading frame
series of 3 non-overlapping nucleotides, read in order, by a cell; 3 different reading frames are possible for each mRNA molecule
start codon
signals the start of translation and the amino acid methionine
ribosome
the site of protein synthesis; causes formation of peptide bonds between amino acids
parts of a ribosome
large subunit and small subunit
"large subunit, small subunit, and binding sites (made from rRNA and proteins)
large subunit of ribosome role
binds to tRNA
small subunit of ribosome role
binds to mRNA
peptide bonds
connects amino acids together
what are ribosomes made of
RNA and proteins
codon
three nucleotide sequence that codes for amino acids
anticodon
three nucleotides on a tRNA molecule that binds to a complementary RNA codon
common language
genetic code that is shared by almost all organisms
stop codon
three codons that signal the ends of a chain of amino acids
t in tRNA
transfer
tRNA
type of RNA that TRANSFERS amino acids from cytoplasm to ribosome; first end has a specific anticodon, the other end attaches to a specific amino acid
how many parts are in the process of tRNA
three
process 1 of tRNA
ribosome assembles at start codon and complementary tRNA molecule pairs with the exposed codon
process 2 of tRNA
ribosome helps bond the new amino acid to the start codon and breaks the bond between the amino acid and the first tRNA
process 3 of tRNA
ribosome pulls the mRNA strand the length of one codon; first tRNA returns to the cytoplasm and another codon is exposed for tRNA to bind