RNA Transcription 

  1. mRNA is different from DNA because mRNA only had one backbone whereas DNA has two sugar-phosphate backbones. The mRNA bring the code from the DNA to the outside of the nucleous. DNA only has the genes and that the mRNA copies and bring out to the ribosome as codons so that the protein can be created.
  2. Unwinding : The DNA helicase unwinds the DNA strand in a certain spot in order to be read by the RNA. That process exposes one side of the DNA strand.  Complementary base pairing : Along one side of the DNA, the RNA complimentary base pairs to the nucleotides in the DNA. The RNA Uracil bonds with the Adenine of DNA and so on and so forth. The nucleotides of the RNA and DNA covalently bond and the RNA polymerase bond the two seperate RNA and DNA strands together. Seperation : After the last two steps, the RNA is releases from the DNA and then the DNA reforms its double helix shape. The RNA then leaves the nucleous and into the cytoplasme.
  3. The model did a good job of showing how the DNA and RNA bond together through their complimentary bases, and how the RNA polymerase join the RNA and DNA strands together. In addition, the model did a great job of showing the seperation process. The model was inaccurate in showing how the DNA only unwinds in one spot rather than unwinding the whole strand of DNA. The model showed the whole strand unwinding as oppose to only one section of the DNA opening and the RNA slidding in the to read the DNA.

 

RNA Translation

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  1. In the first step (initiation), the mRNA attaches to the small ribosomal subunit, the the large and the small subunits connect. The second step (elongation), tRNA is binds to the binding sites. The tRNA is complimentary and is determined by the sequence of nucleotides. During this process, the ribosome holds the mRNA and allows this is occur. Empty tRNA also leaves the ribosome. The final step (termination) is where the mRNA reads a STOP codon and the cycle of elongation terminates. At this point, the polypetide is complete and the ribosome releases the polymer by dissociating and breaking into its sub units.
  2. Our model did a good job in showing the translation when the two tRNAs come and hold the individual amino acids. It showed the building process wuite well in the beginning. What the model did not accomplish well, was showing how the protein was put together and held by the rRNA later during the process. In addition, the model did not really show the different site/docking stations of the tRNA and how the anticodons connect the the codons to read which amino acid to be used.