This chapter is about the processes which use DNA's coded information to make protein.   You even get a new copy of the secret code: 

Genetic Code Table from http://molbio.info.nih.gov/molbio/gcode.html (This is another version which can be used on quizzes and tests and on future labs)  You can still use the textbook version also.

MAIN POINTS FROM THE TEXTBOOK

• BASIC IDEA> The central dogma (DNA-->RNA-->protein)   is reviewed 
  • on fig.   13.1     
  • and the Information Flow segment of CD Activity 13.2  
  • and pp. 252-3.    
    
• TRANSCRIPTION>  (skim through prokaryotic processes,  pp. 253-256, for now) For eukaryotes, be able to describe 

• how it happens (fig. 13.2, fig. 3.14,  and pp. 256-259 ) 
• and how RNA structure differs from DNA structure (fig. 3.14, pp. 55-56 ).   
• CD Activity 13.1  is highly recommended.
  

• THE GORY DETAILS   pp. 256-259.  Be able to describe how transcription happens  in more detail.    

  • Does the book even mention that transcription also creates rRNA and tRNA?  Well, know it anyway.   
  • An important concept is that only a few genes are transcribed at one time and place, depending on what's needed in that cell.  This is different from replication, where all the bases are used.  Figure out how transcription factors and promoters are involved (like E2F in control of the cell cycle, chapter 8).
  • Another important fact is the concept of introns and exons, fig. 13.8.
    

• TRANSLATION is protein synthesis
  • First, review amino acids (pp. 44-46 ) and polypeptides (junior proteins, fig. 3.9 pp. 51-52 ; this is REALLY IMPORTANT:  do it!).   
  • The most important goal is to make sure you can use a codon table to show the end result of translation:  the amino acid sequence translated from the mRNA sequence.  think about this concept:
              the order or sequence of amino acids in the protein is controlled 
              by the base sequence of mRNA.
    do you remember how to translate this mRNA base sequence into an amino acid sequence:  
         UUUGAGUUUGAG?
  • The second goal is to be able to explain and describe how translation works.
    • CD Activity 13.2  is the easiest method for mastering the information below this point.  The animation is very helpful but lots of details make it overwhelming to some.  Focus on the “take-home” message of Information Flow and then use your own words to explain the process of translation in as much detail as you can stomach.  It's not necessary to learn a lot of technical names except for the vocabulary required below.  Focus on the processes, not the technical names.
    • Be able to explain Figures   13.14, 13.16,13.17, 13.19, more 13.19 and 13.21.  (This task is nearly impossible if you have not watched CD Activity 13.2 .)  
    • Be sure you can tell the functions (jobs) of all of these:
      • ribosome, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, (also, for comparison, snRNA and snRNPs)
    • Make sure you understand the summary on p. 271.
    • When you can do that, you should be equipped to explain how each of these is connected to every other term on this list:  mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, ribosome, codon, anticodon (on tRNA), amino acid attachment site (on tRNA), peptide "bonds" or linkages, polypeptide, start codon, stop codon, initiation, elongation, termination. 
  • THE GORY DETAILS pp. 259-270:  you will not be tested on the details of the experiments on these pages, but you do need to use at least parts of these pages to supplement CD Activity 13.2  in explaining how translation works.  
    
• CHECKLIST  promoter, RNA polymerase, template strand, complementary strand, transcript, transcription factor, 3' to 5', 5' to 3', pre-mRNA intron, exon, prion, post-translational modification, signal sequence.
  
• Sample Quiz and Test Questions for Chapter 13
  • CD Activity 13.1  Prequiz #1, 2, 3, 4, 5;  Postquiz # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Content Review # 5, (1, 2, 3 are for A students only)
  • Conceptual Review # 1, 4, 5, 7 (2, 3, 6 are for A students only)
  • AND THESE:

    1. The synthesis of RNA is called                  
       [a] replication. [b] transcription. [c] translation.

    2. The synthesis of protein is called                  
       [a] replication. [b] transcription. [c] translation.

    3. Replicate this DNA segment:  AAA
       

    4. Transcribe this DNA segment:  AAA

5. Translate this mRNA segment:  AAA
   
6.  In eukaryotic cells, pre-mRNA (or primary RNA) is found in the     
   [a] cytoplasm and nucleus. [b] cytoplasm only. 
   [c] nucleus only.     [d] ribosome.

7. Pre-mRNA differs from mRNA because the pre-mRNA contains (but mRNA does not contain)   
   [a] codons. [b] DNA. [c] introns. [d] pyrimidines.

8. The coded information for synthesizing a protein is carried to the ribosome by  [a] ATP. [b] DNA. [c] mRNA. 
   [d] paired bases. [e] rRNA.

9. What would the anti-codon on the tRNA which pairs with mRNA's AAA?  want answers?

MOLECULAR GENETICS INTERNET LINKS : 

• "new" news at  http://www.phrma.org/genomics/  or http://vector.cshl.org/ . 
• Review: http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/index.htm [click on "DNA"] (this review does not include the details required to make an A; it’s just for making sure you understand the basics)
• RNA tutorial from "Beginners guide to Molecular Biology":   http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/rnast.htm
• Transcription tutorial from "Beginners guide to Molecular Biology": http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/trans.htm
• translation tutorial from "Beginners guide to Molecular Biology": http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/trad.htm
• experiments discovering introns   http://vector.cshl.org/dnaftb/24/animation/fs.html 
• experiments discovering reverse transcriptase:  http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/25/animation/fs.html 
• RNA evolved first:  http://vector.cshl.org/dnaftb/26/animation/fs.html
•  Codon charts: 
• MORE LINKS   

answers to sample questions:  1b 2c 3TTT 4UUU 5K  6  7c  8c  9 UUU