BRAINCAKEmRNA
Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the genetic information of a gene from DNA, which stays in the nucleus, to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm where the polypeptide is made.
Structure:
• a single, linear polynucleotide strand (it does not fold into a fixed shape)
• nucleotides contain ribose and the bases A, U, C and G
• its base sequence is complementary to the template strand of the gene, so it is a copy of the other (coding) strand with U in place of T
• its bases are read in triplets called codons, each coding for one amino acid
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Key terms in this lesson
- transcription
- The synthesis of a molecule of mRNA using one strand of DNA as a template, catalysed by RNA polymerase, occurring in the nucleus.
- nuclear pore
- A channel through the nuclear envelope that controls the movement of molecules, such as mRNA, between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
More in DNA, Genes and Protein Synthesis
- Evidence for Semi-Conservative DNA Replication
- DNA Replication
- The Genetic Code
- Types of RNA
- tRNA
- rRNA
- Protein Synthesis
- Transcription
All 20 lessons in DNA, Genes and Protein Synthesis · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics