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Quiz yourself on Protein Synthesis — Transcription and TranslationGet your flashcardsBuild my revision planTrack my progress⚠️ Common Misconceptions in Protein Synthesis
Misconception 1: "RNA uses thymine, just like DNA"
This is wrong. RNA contains uracil (U) instead of thymine. During transcription, adenine on the DNA template pairs with uracil on the growing mRNA strand. If an exam question gives you a DNA template strand sequence and asks for the mRNA sequence, every T on the DNA becomes a U on the mRNA — not a T. Writing T on mRNA will cost you a mark.
Misconception 2: "The codon and anticodon are both on the same molecule"
They are on different molecules. The codon is on the mRNA; the anticodon is on the tRNA. The two are complementary to each other and pair together (by hydrogen bonds) at the ribosome during translation. Do not confuse their locations — this is tested directly in short-answer questions.
Misconception 3: "A deletion mutation only affects one amino acid, just like a substitution"
This is a very common and very costly error. A deletion (removing one base) shifts the reading frame of every codon after the deletion point. Virtually the entire protein sequence from that point onwards is altered — not just one amino acid. A substitution, by contrast, changes at most one codon. Deletion/insertion mutations are therefore usually far more damaging than substitutions. OCR A mark schemes specifically reward answers that explain the frameshift effect.
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