1. Transcription: This is the process of copying the genetic information from a DNA sequence into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.
* The DNA sequence containing the gene for the desired protein is unwound.
* An enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to the DNA and reads the sequence.
* RNA polymerase creates a complementary mRNA copy of the gene, using uracil (U) in place of thymine (T).
* The mRNA detaches from the DNA and moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
2. Translation: This is the process of converting the mRNA code into a protein.
* The mRNA molecule binds to a ribosome, which is a cellular structure responsible for protein synthesis.
* Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, each carrying a specific amino acid, recognize the mRNA codons (three-nucleotide sequences) and bring the corresponding amino acids to the ribosome.
* The ribosome links the amino acids together in a chain, following the instructions from the mRNA sequence.
* The completed protein chain detaches from the ribosome and folds into its functional three-dimensional shape.
So, transcription is the crucial first step, creating the mRNA blueprint that is then used to build the protein.
