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Name: Colin
Status: Student
Age: 14
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2002
Question:
When mRNA is translated, it is done differently in Eukaryotic cells and Prokaryotic cells. In Eukaryotic cells, the mRNA itself moves down the chain when the first tRNA is released, where as in Prokaryotic cells, the ribosome moves when the first tRNA is released. Why is that?


Replies:
Colin,

there is no difference between the two. Since neither the ribosome nor the mRNA is attached to anything in the cell, you can either think of the mRNA moving through the ribosome, or the ribosome moving down the mRNA. Either way, it's the same thing.

Paul Mahoney, PhD


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