Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a molecule of RNA encoding a chemical “blueprint” for a protein product. It is transcribed from the DNA template and carries coding information to the sites of protein synthesis in the ribosomes. In mRNA as in DNA, genetic information is encoded in the sequence of nucleotides arranged into codons consisting of three bases each.
Transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) is a small RNA molecule that transfers a specific active amino acid to a growing polypeptide chain at the ribosomal site of protein synthesis during translation.
References
Text – Alberts, Bruce, et al. (2002) The Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th edition). Garland Science
Text – Bruns, David E, et al. (2007) Fundamentals of Molecular Diagnostics. Saunders
Text – Interactive Medical (2009). Molecular Diagnostic Testing: Principles and Practice. CE and CME program. www.hpvinstitute.com.
Text – http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/illustrations/dnastructure.jpg (DNA strand)
Text – http://images2.clinicaltools.com/images/gene/codon.jpg (RNA strand)
Text – http://www.obgynacademy.com/basicsciences/fetology/genetics/images/codon_GCA.gif
Text – http://www.theodora.com/genetics/glossary_t.html (transcription/translation)
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Molecular Biology
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References
Text – Alberts, Bruce, et al. (2002) The Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th edition). Garland Science
Text – Bruns, David E, et al. (2007) Fundamentals of Molecular Diagnostics. Saunders
Text – Interactive Medical (2009). Molecular Diagnostic Testing: Principles and Practice. CE and CME program. www.hpvinstitute.com.
Text – http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/illustrations/dnastructure.jpg (DNA strand)
Text – http://images2.clinicaltools.com/images/gene/codon.jpg (RNA strand)
Text – http://www.obgynacademy.com/basicsciences/fetology/genetics/images/codon_GCA.gif
Text – http://www.theodora.com/genetics/glossary_t.html (transcription/translation)