IB Biology HL D1.2.5 Translation Questions

Explore initiation, elongation, codon recognition and termination as ribosomes translate mRNA into a polypeptide in IB Biology HL D1.2.5.

Exam points

Analyse how ribosomes move along mRNA and decode codons to establish polypeptide amino-acid order.
Explain tRNA activation, codon–anticodon pairing and delivery of specific amino acids to ribosome binding sites.
Evaluate translation stages by checking the start codon, 5′→3′ direction, peptide-bond formation and termination.

[Maximum number: 4]

Proteins play essential roles in all forms of life.

Outline how mRNA is translated in the cytoplasm of a cell.

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a	mRNA attaches to a ribosome OR translation is initiated by assembly of ribosome, mRNA and tRNA;
b	translation happens by a repeated cycle of events OR ribosome moves along mRNA;
c	tRNA carrying an amino acid binds to ribosome / to A/P site (of ribosome);
d	anticodon on tRNA binds codon on mRNA;
e	complementary base pairing links anticodon to codon/ensures the amino acid corresponds to the codon OR base sequence determines amino acid sequence due to complementary base pairing;
f	peptide bond links amino acid (on tRNA) to the peptide chain already assembled OR peptide bond links amino acids (attached to tRNAs) on the P and A sites;
g	polypeptide released from ribosome when stop codon is reached;