In the last article, we ended transcription with a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) ready to leave the nucleus and travel to the ribosomes. The ribosomes are where translation happens - the next step in protein synthesis. Translation Translation begins with the mRNA strand settling between the two subunits of the ribosome. Each three base... Continue Reading →
RNA – Biological Molecules Ep 2
Most people have heard of DNA, but ribonucleic acid (RNA) is its lesser known cousin. They have many similar features, but quite different functions. There are different types of RNA, the three main types being messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). If you have been following the cell organelle series, you … Read more
Ribosomes and the RER – Cell Organelles Ep 3
Ribosomes Ribosomes are very small organelles often drawn as dots in diagrams. They are free in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). One cell can contain millions of ribosomes if it needs to produce a lot of proteins. If we zoom right in, we find that ribosomes are actually made up … Read more