Transcription: from DNA to messenger RNA
Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
Ari reads a model pre-mRNA. The introns are cut out and the exons are joined. How many bases are in the mature mRNA?
- 45 bases
- 33 bases
- 60 bases
- 27 bases
Bo reads a second model pre-mRNA. Three bases make one codon. How many codons are in the mature mRNA?
Second model pre-mRNA before splicing (model data), 5 rows. Columns: segment, kind, bases. exon 1, exon, 18. intron 1, intron, 21. exon 2, exon, 24. intron 2, intron, 30. exon 3, exon, 15. Ignore the cap and the tail. Second model pre-mRNA before splicing (model data), 5 rows. Columns: segment, kind, bases. exon 1, exon, 18. intron 1, intron, 21. exon 2, exon, 24. intron 2, intron, 30. exon 3, exon, 15. Ignore the cap and the tail. Second model pre-mRNA before splicing (model data) segment kind bases exon 1 exon 18 intron 1 intron 21 exon 2 exon 24 intron 2 intron 30 exon 3 exon 15 Ignore the cap and the tail. - 57 codons
- 36 codons
- 17 codons
- 19 codons
Read this first
Model rate card (model data)
fact value bases added each second by E. coli RNA polymerase 40 codons in the model mRNA 400 bases in one codon 3 Esme reads a rate card. About how many seconds does the polymerase need to build the whole model mRNA?
- 10 seconds
- 30 seconds
- 48,000 seconds
- 1,240 seconds
Model gene (not to scale). Jun reads a model template. RNA polymerase builds a pre-mRNA from it, and then the intron is cut out. Which mature mRNA is left?
Model gene (not to scale). DNA template strand, 3′ end on the left and 5′ end on the right: T A C T G T C A T T T C A A G C T G. In the template, intron 1 is bases 7 to 12. Model gene (not to scale). DNA template strand, 3′ end on the left and 5′ end on the right: T A C T G T C A T T T C A A G C T G. In the template, intron 1 is bases 7 to 12. DNA template strand 3' end 5' end T A C T G T C A T T T C A A G C T G intron 1 - ATGACATTCGAC
- UACUGUAAGCUG
- AUGACAGUAAAGUUCGAC
- AUGACAUUCGAC
Luz reads a model template. Which RNA does the polymerase build first, before any splicing?
Model gene (not to scale). DNA template strand, 3′ end on the left and 5′ end on the right: T A C G T G C A G T T C G C T A A G. In the template, intron 1 is bases 7 to 12. Model gene (not to scale). DNA template strand, 3′ end on the left and 5′ end on the right: T A C G T G C A G T T C G C T A A G. In the template, intron 1 is bases 7 to 12. Model gene (not to scale) DNA template strand 3' end 5' end T A C G T G C A G T T C G C T A A G intron 1 bases 7 to 12 - UACGUGCAGUUCGCUAAG
- AUGCACCGAUUC
- AUGCACGUCAAGCGAUUC
- ATGCACGTCAAGCGATTC
Use this
Notebook on transcription (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what it says. 1, RNA polymerase reads the template strand of one gene. 2, The mRNA is built by pairing bases with the template. 3, Compared with the coding strand, the mRNA has U where the DNA has T. 4, The mRNA has the same letters as the template strand.
Milo checks a classmate’s notebook on transcription. Exactly one line is wrong. Which line, and why?
- Line 2, because mRNA is built from the coding strand
- Line 1, because both strands of a gene are read
- Line 3, because RNA keeps T like DNA
- Line 4, because the mRNA pairs with the template
Notebook on a plant cell’s mRNA (model data)
line what it says 1 Transcription of a gene takes place in the nucleus 2 A cap is added at the 5′ end and a poly-A tail at the 3′ end 3 Introns are cut out and the exons are joined 4 The finished mRNA keeps its introns when it leaves the nucleus Noah checks a classmate’s notebook on a plant cell’s mRNA. Exactly one line is wrong. Which line, and why?
- Line 1, because transcription takes place in the cytoplasm
- Line 3, because the exons are the parts cut out
- Line 2, because the cap and tail are added to the DNA
- Line 4, because introns are cut out in the nucleus
Use this
Notebook on strands and direction (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what it says. 1, The DNA opens in front of the moving polymerase and closes again behind it. 2, RNA polymerase builds the mRNA from its 5′ end toward its 3′ end. 3, The mRNA matches the coding strand, with U where the DNA has T. 4, One gene is read from both of its strands, so two mRNAs form.
Pia checks a classmate’s notebook on strands and direction. Exactly one line is wrong. Which line, and why?
- Line 3, because the mRNA has the same letters as the template
- Line 1, because the DNA stays open behind the polymerase
- Line 4, because one strand is the template for a gene
- Line 2, because the mRNA is built from its 3′ end
Where things are in a plant cell (model data)
structure where it is DNA nucleus ribosomes cytoplasm Tala asks how a gene in a plant cell’s DNA can direct a protein built at a ribosome. Which claim and reason are correct?
- The mRNA copy is built in the cytoplasm, because the ribosomes are there
- The DNA moves to the cytoplasm, because ribosomes read DNA
- The mRNA copy of one strand leaves the nucleus, because the DNA stays inside
- A copy of both strands leaves the nucleus, because the ribosome needs the double helix
Model template (not to scale). Zee predicts the coding strand and the mRNA for this template. Which claim and reason are correct?
Model template (not to scale). DNA template strand, 3′ end on the left and 5′ end on the right: G T A C C T. The coding strand and the mRNA are written 5′ end on the left. Model template (not to scale). DNA template strand, 3′ end on the left and 5′ end on the right: G T A C C T. The coding strand and the mRNA are written 5′ end on the left. DNA template strand 3' 5' G T A C C T coding strand 5' mRNA 5' - Coding strand CATGGA and mRNA CATGGA, because RNA keeps T like DNA
- Coding strand GTACCT and mRNA GUACCU, because both copy the template
- Coding strand CATGGA and mRNA GUACCU, because the mRNA pairs with it
- Coding strand CATGGA and mRNA CAUGGA, because U replaces T