1.Draw an RNA nucleotide and a DNA nucleotide, highlighting the differences. How is the structure of RNA similar to that of DNA? How is it different?

2.What are the major classes of cellular RNA?

3.What parts of DNA make up a transcription unit? Draw a typical bacterial transcription unit and identify its parts.

4.What is the substrate for RNA synthesis? How is this substrate modified and joined together to produce an RNA molecule?

5.What are the three basic stages of transcription? Describe what takes place at each stage.

6.How are transcription and replication similar and how are they different?

7.What are the three principal elements in mRNA sequences in bacterial cells?

8.What is the function of the Shine–Dalgarno consensus sequence?

9.What is the 5′ cap?

10.What is the function of the spliceosome?

11.What is alternative splicing? How does it lead to the production of multiple proteins from a single gene?

12.Summarize the different types of processing that can take place in pre-mRNA.

13.Briefly describe the structure of tRNAs.

14.What is the origin of small interfering RNAs and microRNAs? What do these RNA molecules do in the cell?