Bio3400
Chapter 13
The Genetic Code and Transcription
The genetic
code
is composed of triplets
of
that make up
, each of which specifies one amino acid.
The triplet nature of the code was first revealed by
mutations.
The genetic code was first cracked by using artificial
RNA
in an
translation system to synthesize
polypeptides.
Next, RNA
were used to discover the base composition of more
codons.
Then, the
binding
assay
was used to determine other specific codon assignments.
Finally,
repeating
were used to complete the construction of the genetic code.
The
genetic
code is
, and exhibits
pairing
at the third codon position.
The genetic code is nearly universal, with minor
such as those found in
mitochondrial
DNA.
In some viruses, different initiation points lead to
genes.
Studies with bacteriophage
infection
provided initial evidence that
serves as the intermediate molecule between DNA and proteins.
Transcription begins with template binding by
polymerase
at an site upstream to the gene called the
.
Eukaryotes possess three forms of
polymerase,
each of which transcribes different types of genes.
The initial transcript in eukaryotes is a
that must be
processed
by splicing together the
to produce the mature
mRNA.
Introns are removed by splicing together the
by
(
group I
and II) or by
(group
III
).
The size of the mature
is usually much smaller than that of the initial RNA
transcript.
Transcription
can now be
visualized
using electron microscopy.