BIOLOGY FOR LIFE
  • IB Bio Syllabus
    • Unity and Diversity (A) >
      • A1 molecules >
        • A1.1: Water
        • A1.2: Nucleic Acids
      • A2 Cells >
        • A2.1: Origins of Cells
        • A2.2: Cell Structure
        • A2.3: Viruses
      • A3 Organisms >
        • A3.1: Diversity of Organisms
        • A3.2: Classification and Cladistics
      • A4 Ecosystems >
        • A4.1: Evolution and Speciation
        • A4.2: Conservation of Biodiversity
    • Form and Function (B) >
      • B1 Molecules >
        • B1.1: Carbohydrates and Lipids
        • B1.2: Proteins
      • B2 Cells >
        • B2.1 Membranes and Membrane Transport
        • B2.2 Organelles and Compartmentalization
        • B2.3 Cell Specialization
      • B3 Organisms >
        • B3.1 Gas Exchange
        • B3.2 Transport
        • B3.3 Muscle and Motility
      • B4 Ecosystems >
        • B4.1 Adaptation to Environment
        • B4.2 Ecological Niches
    • Interaction and Interdependence (C) >
      • C1 Molecules >
        • C1.1: Enzymes and Metabolism
        • C1.2: Cell Respiration
        • C1.3: Photosynthesis
      • C2 Cells >
        • C2.1: Chemical Signaling
        • C2.2: Neural Signaling
      • C3 Organisms >
        • C3.1: Integration of Body Systems
        • C3.2: Defense Against Disease
      • C4 Ecosystems >
        • C4.1 Populations and Communities
        • C4.2 Transfers of Energy and Matter
    • Continuity and Change (D) >
      • D1 Molecules >
        • D1.1: DNA Replication
        • D1.2: Protein Synthesis
        • D1.3: Mutation and Gene Editing
      • D2 Cells >
        • D2.1: Cell and Nuclear Division
        • D2.2: Gene Expression
        • D2.3: Water Potential
      • D3 Organisms >
        • D3.1: Reproduction
        • D3.2: Inheritance
        • D3.3: Homeostasis
      • D4 Ecosystems >
        • D4.1: Natural Selection
        • D4.2: Stability and Change
        • D4.3: Climate Change
  • IB Requirements
    • Internal Assessment >
      • Research Design
      • Analysis
      • Conclusion
      • Evaluation
    • External Assessment >
      • Exam Revision
    • Extended Essay
    • Reflective Project
    • Collaborative Sciences Project
    • Learner Profile
  • Skills for Biology
    • Tools >
      • Experimental Techniques >
        • Addressing Safety
        • Measuring Variables >
          • Lab Drawings
          • Measurement Uncertainty
        • Techniques >
          • Microscopy
      • Technology >
        • Graphing with Excel
      • Mathematics >
        • Statistics >
          • Glossary of Statistic Terms and Equations
          • Descriptive Statistics >
            • Skew and the Normal Distribution
            • Outliers
            • Measures of Central Tendancy
            • Measures of Spread
            • Pearson Correlation
          • Inferential Statistics >
            • T-Test
            • ANOVA
            • Kruskal-Wallis
            • X2 Test for Independence
            • X2 Goodness of Fit
        • Graphing >
          • Interpreting Error Bars
    • Inquiry Processes >
      • Exploring & Designing >
        • Research Questions
        • Hypotheses and Predictions
        • Varaibles
        • Sampling
      • Collecting & Processing Data >
        • Data Tables
      • Concluding & Evaluating >
        • Error Analysis
  • SHS Course Info
    • Above & Beyond >
      • Biology Club
      • Pumpkin Carving
      • Scavenger Hunt
      • Science News
      • Wood Duck Project (legacy)
      • Invasive Crayfish Project (legacy)
    • Assessment >
      • Class Grading IB Bio I
      • Class Grading IB Bio II
      • Daily Quizzes (legacy)
      • Lab Practicals (legacy)
    • Class Photos
    • Recommendations
  • Contact
    • About >
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    • Bahamas (2009)
    • Trinidad (2010)
    • Trinidad (2011)
    • Ecuador (2012)
    • Trinidad (2013)
    • Peru (2014)
    • Bahamas (2015)
    • Peru (2016)
    • Costa Rica (2017)
    • Costa Rica (2018)
    • Arizona (2022)
    • Florida (2023)
    • Belize (2024)
    • Costa Rica (2025)
  • Summer Ecology Research
  • Teacher Resources

D1.2  Protein Synthesis

Guiding Questions:  
Guiding questions help students view the content of the syllabus through the conceptual lenses of both the themes and the levels of biological organization.
  • How does a cell produce a sequence of amino acids from a sequence of DNA bases?
  • How is the reliability of protein synthesis ensured?
​
​
Linking Questions:  
Linking questions strengthen students’ understanding by making connections between topics.  The ideal outcome of the linking questions is networked knowledge.
  • What biological processes depend on hydrogen bonding? 
  • How does the diversity of proteins produced contribute to the functioning of the cell?
D1.2.1—  Transcription as the synthesis of RNA using a DNA template.
  • Define transcription.
  • List the roles of RNA polymerases in the process of transcription. ​​
D1.2.2— Role of hydrogen bonding and complementary base pairing in transcription.​
  • State the complementary base pairing utilized in transcription. 
  • Distinguish between the sense and antisense strands of DNA.
D1.2.3— Stability of DNA templates.
  • Outline how stability of the information stored in DNA is maintained.
D1.2.4-- Transcription as a process required for the expression of genes.
  • Define gene expression.
  • Outline the major steps of gene expression.
  • State that the pattern of gene expression is how cells differentiate for specific functions.
  • Outline the role of transcription in regulating gene expression.​
D1.2.5— Translation as the synthesis of polypeptides from mRNA.
  • Define translation.
  • State the location of translation in cells.​
​​​​D1.2.6- Roles of mRNA, ribosomes and tRNA in translation.
  • Outline the roles of mRNA, ribosomes and tRNA in translation. 
  • Describe the structures of mRNA and tRNA.
  • Describe the structure of the ribosomes, including the small and large subunits and the names and roles of the tRNA binding sites.
 ​​​​D1.2.7- Complementary base pairing between tRNA and mRNA.
  • State the complementary base pairing utilized in translation. 
  • Define codon and anticodon. 
  • Describe the formation of hydrogen bonds between codon and anticodon.
D1.2.8- Features of the genetic code.
  • Explain the reason that a sequence of three nucleotides is required to code for the 20 amino acids commonly utilized by organisms.
  • Define codon, degenerate and universal as related to the genetic code.
D1.2.9-  Using the genetic code expressed as a table of mRNA codons.
  • Use a genetic code table to determine the amino acid sequence coded for by a given DNA or RNA sequence.
D1.2.10- Stepwise movement of the ribosome along mRNA and linkage of amino acids by peptide bonding to the growing polypeptide chain.
  • Outline the process of translation elongation, including codon recognition, bond formation and translocation.
D1.2.11- Mutations that change protein structure.
  • Define gene mutation.
  • State the cause of sickle cell anemia, including the differences in the HbA and HbS alleles.
  • State the difference in RNA sequences in the transcription of the HbA and HbS alleles.
  • State the difference in amino acid sequences in the translation of the HbA and HbS alleles.
  • Outline the consequences of the HbS mutation on the  structure and function of the hemoglobin protein. 
  • Discuss the symptoms of sickle cell disease.
AHL ​​​​D1.2.12- Directionality of transcription and translation.
  • Identify the 5’ ends and 3’ ends of a strand of RNA.
  • Describe the formation of the covalent bond between adjacent nucleotides during transcription. 
  • State that RNA polymerases can only add the 5’ phosphate of a free nucleotide to the 3’ deoxyribose of the elongating strand.​
  • State the direction of movement of the ribosome along the mRNA molecule.
AHL ​​​​D1.2.13- Initiation of transcription at the promoter.
  • Outline the structure and function of the promoter regions of DNA.
  • Describe the initiation of transcription, including the role of the promoter sequence, transcription factors and RNA polymerase.
  • Compare the function of activator and repressor sequences within the promoter.
  • State that transcription factors are proteins that bind to the promoter.
  • State that some transcription factors activate transcription while others inhibit transcription. 
AHL ​​​​D1.2.14- Non-coding sequences in DNA do not code for polypeptides.
  • Define “coding” and “non-coding” sequences of DNA.
  • Outline five functions of noncoding DNA sequences found in genomes.
AHL ​​​​D1.2.15- Post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotic cells.
  • Outline the location and timing of post-transcriptional modification of RNA.
  • Describe the function of the 5’ cap and poly-A tail.
  • Compare intron and exon sequences of genes. 
  • Outline the process of RNA splicing. ​
AHL ​​​​D1.2.16- Alternative splicing of exons to produce variants of a protein from a single gene.
  • Describe the process of alternative RNA splicing.
  • Outline the benefit of alternative RNA splicing.​
AHL ​​​​D1.2.17-  Initiation of translation.
  • Outline the process of translation initiation.​
AHL ​​​​D1.2.18- Modification of polypeptides into their functional state.
  • List types of modifications of polypeptides that may be required to form a functional protein.
  • Outline the two stages of modification of preproinsulin to form functional insulin.​
AHL ​​​​D1.2.19- Recycling of amino acids by proteasomes.
  • List reasons when proteins typically exist for a relatively short time within a cell. 
  • Outline the function of proteasomes in the recycling of amino acids.
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Picture
  • IB Bio Syllabus
    • Unity and Diversity (A) >
      • A1 molecules >
        • A1.1: Water
        • A1.2: Nucleic Acids
      • A2 Cells >
        • A2.1: Origins of Cells
        • A2.2: Cell Structure
        • A2.3: Viruses
      • A3 Organisms >
        • A3.1: Diversity of Organisms
        • A3.2: Classification and Cladistics
      • A4 Ecosystems >
        • A4.1: Evolution and Speciation
        • A4.2: Conservation of Biodiversity
    • Form and Function (B) >
      • B1 Molecules >
        • B1.1: Carbohydrates and Lipids
        • B1.2: Proteins
      • B2 Cells >
        • B2.1 Membranes and Membrane Transport
        • B2.2 Organelles and Compartmentalization
        • B2.3 Cell Specialization
      • B3 Organisms >
        • B3.1 Gas Exchange
        • B3.2 Transport
        • B3.3 Muscle and Motility
      • B4 Ecosystems >
        • B4.1 Adaptation to Environment
        • B4.2 Ecological Niches
    • Interaction and Interdependence (C) >
      • C1 Molecules >
        • C1.1: Enzymes and Metabolism
        • C1.2: Cell Respiration
        • C1.3: Photosynthesis
      • C2 Cells >
        • C2.1: Chemical Signaling
        • C2.2: Neural Signaling
      • C3 Organisms >
        • C3.1: Integration of Body Systems
        • C3.2: Defense Against Disease
      • C4 Ecosystems >
        • C4.1 Populations and Communities
        • C4.2 Transfers of Energy and Matter
    • Continuity and Change (D) >
      • D1 Molecules >
        • D1.1: DNA Replication
        • D1.2: Protein Synthesis
        • D1.3: Mutation and Gene Editing
      • D2 Cells >
        • D2.1: Cell and Nuclear Division
        • D2.2: Gene Expression
        • D2.3: Water Potential
      • D3 Organisms >
        • D3.1: Reproduction
        • D3.2: Inheritance
        • D3.3: Homeostasis
      • D4 Ecosystems >
        • D4.1: Natural Selection
        • D4.2: Stability and Change
        • D4.3: Climate Change
  • IB Requirements
    • Internal Assessment >
      • Research Design
      • Analysis
      • Conclusion
      • Evaluation
    • External Assessment >
      • Exam Revision
    • Extended Essay
    • Reflective Project
    • Collaborative Sciences Project
    • Learner Profile
  • Skills for Biology
    • Tools >
      • Experimental Techniques >
        • Addressing Safety
        • Measuring Variables >
          • Lab Drawings
          • Measurement Uncertainty
        • Techniques >
          • Microscopy
      • Technology >
        • Graphing with Excel
      • Mathematics >
        • Statistics >
          • Glossary of Statistic Terms and Equations
          • Descriptive Statistics >
            • Skew and the Normal Distribution
            • Outliers
            • Measures of Central Tendancy
            • Measures of Spread
            • Pearson Correlation
          • Inferential Statistics >
            • T-Test
            • ANOVA
            • Kruskal-Wallis
            • X2 Test for Independence
            • X2 Goodness of Fit
        • Graphing >
          • Interpreting Error Bars
    • Inquiry Processes >
      • Exploring & Designing >
        • Research Questions
        • Hypotheses and Predictions
        • Varaibles
        • Sampling
      • Collecting & Processing Data >
        • Data Tables
      • Concluding & Evaluating >
        • Error Analysis
  • SHS Course Info
    • Above & Beyond >
      • Biology Club
      • Pumpkin Carving
      • Scavenger Hunt
      • Science News
      • Wood Duck Project (legacy)
      • Invasive Crayfish Project (legacy)
    • Assessment >
      • Class Grading IB Bio I
      • Class Grading IB Bio II
      • Daily Quizzes (legacy)
      • Lab Practicals (legacy)
    • Class Photos
    • Recommendations
  • Contact
    • About >
      • Philosophy
      • Resume
      • Reflection
      • Favorite Quotes
      • AEF Blog
  • Expeditions
    • Bahamas (2009)
    • Trinidad (2010)
    • Trinidad (2011)
    • Ecuador (2012)
    • Trinidad (2013)
    • Peru (2014)
    • Bahamas (2015)
    • Peru (2016)
    • Costa Rica (2017)
    • Costa Rica (2018)
    • Arizona (2022)
    • Florida (2023)
    • Belize (2024)
    • Costa Rica (2025)
  • Summer Ecology Research
  • Teacher Resources