Audience: Healthcare providers

Animation Description:
The DNA is shown as a circular double strand within the bacterial cell. Like the DNA of all living organisms, it contains the unique genetic code for all of the proteins required for bacterial survival. These include the proteins required for reproduction, growth, repair and regulation of metabolism. It also codes for the 3 kinds of RNA that are essential for carrying out protein synthesis. These are known as ribosomal RNA (rRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA). In order for the bacteria to begin protein synthesis, the double-stranded DNA molecule must first unwind and separate in the region which codes for the specific protein that is to be made. Only one strand of the DNA serves as the template for this process known as transcription. Transcription results in the formation of messenger RNA (mRNA) which is a mirror copy of the DNA segment. Once the strand of mRNA is complete, it will detach from the DNA template and in turn become attached to ribosomes. Bacterial ribosomes are made of a small (30S) and a large (50S) subunit. After the 2 subunits join together around the strand of mRNA, synthesis of the polypeptide chain begins. This step involves the aligning of transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules in sequence along the mRNA. Each tRNA carries a unique amino acid (determined by the sequence of the tRNA) which, when aligned along the mRNA and ribosome, join together to form the polypeptide ...