AP Biology · Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
6.4 Translation
In short
You must understand the process of translation, including initiation, elongation, and termination, and how it occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm or rough ER. You should know that in prokaryotes, translation occurs simultaneously with transcription. Key concepts include the roles of mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA, the reading of codons, and the universality of the genetic code as evidence for common ancestry.
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What else do you need to know about Translation?
You must also understand the alternate flow of information in retroviruses via reverse transcriptase. Crucially, the AP Exam explicitly excludes the details and names of the enzymes and factors involved in each step of translation. Furthermore, memorization of the genetic code is beyond the scope of the exam, with the sole exception of the start codon AUG (methionine).
Can you do these?
- I can describe where translation occurs in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
- I can explain that translation occurs simultaneously with transcription in prokaryotes.
- I can describe the steps of translation (initiation, elongation, termination) and the roles of mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and codons.
- I can explain how retroviruses use reverse transcriptase to flow genetic information from RNA to DNA.
How is Translation tested on the exam?
Questions may ask you to represent relationships within biological models (e.g., diagrams or flowcharts of translation) and predict the causes or effects of a change or disruption in the system (e.g., a mutation). You must be able to explain how genotype determines phenotype. Common pitfalls include failing to provide reasoning when connecting a molecular change to a phenotypic change, incorrectly stating that all mutations result in protein denaturation or that point mutations cause frameshifts, and assuming all mutations have negative effects. You should be prepared to use a provided genetic code chart to deduce amino acids.
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Translation: common questions
What do you need to know about Translation for AP Biology?
You must understand the process of translation, including initiation, elongation, and termination, and how it occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm or rough ER. You should know that in prokaryotes, translation occurs simultaneously with transcription. Key concepts include the roles of mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA, the reading of codons, and the universality of the genetic code as evidence for common ancestry.
How is Translation tested on the AP Biology exam?
Questions may ask you to represent relationships within biological models (e.g., diagrams or flowcharts of translation) and predict the causes or effects of a change or disruption in the system (e.g., a mutation).
How do I know I have mastered Translation?
Check you can do each of these: describe where translation occurs in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; explain that translation occurs simultaneously with transcription in prokaryotes; describe the steps of translation (initiation, elongation, termination) and the roles of mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and codons; explain how retroviruses use reverse transcriptase to flow genetic information from RNA to DNA.
Where does Translation fit in AP Biology?
Translation is topic 6.4 in Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation of AP Biology.
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