1: Genes, transcription and translation

• Some genes are found in mitochondria, however most are on chromosomes within the nucleus. 
• A gene is one part of a DNA molecule, and one molecule of DNA makes up a chromosome.
• DNA codes for the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.
• Transcription is the first stage in protein synthesis and uses an mRNA molecule.

Transcription

• The DNA strand unwinds and unzips one gene at a time
• Hydrogen bonds between complementary bases break
• Activated RNA nucleotides bind on the template strand, catalysed by the enzyme RNA polymerase
• Two extra phosphyl groups are released, releasing energy for bonding nucleotides
• the mRNA is a…