In my biology class, we’re learning about gene regulation/expression and transcription of a gene.
I sort of understood what gene regulation is, but I still don’t understand the steps that go with the process and what transcription is along with what is the purpose of that. I also don’t understand the clear difference between needing mRNA to be synthesized through DNA?
I appreciate your help.
In: Biology
Hello, first year biochem student here so this is my very rudimentary explanation. We need messenger RNA (mRNA) to get the information stored on DNA (the gene) to a ribosome in the cytoplasm. For example, in prokaryotes they do not need mRNA to transport that information to a ribosome bc there is no nucleus only a nucleoid region and the ribosome can attach directly to the DNA. So, the reason why a eukaryotic cell needs mRNA is to transport that gene to a ribosome for translation (to turn it into a protein). As for the steps or transcription, a very basic rundown is that a piece of mRNA is synthesized from a section of DNA using RNA polymerase. The introns are spliced out. That mRNA strand is fitted with a 5’ 7 methyl Guanasine cap and a 3’polyA tail to protect it. It then passes through the nuclear membrane and finds a ribosome.
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