DNA, the blueprint of life, contains the instructions for building proteins. This process begins with the transcription of a specific gene within the DNA into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. This mRNA then travels out of the nucleus to the ribosomes, the protein factories of the cell. At the ribosome, the mRNA code is read, and each three-letter "codon" within the mRNA specifies a particular amino acid. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the corresponding amino acids to the ribosome, where they are linked together in a chain, forming the protein. This chain folds into a specific three-dimensional shape determined by the sequence of amino acids, ultimately defining its function. This intricate process of DNA to RNA to protein is known as the central dogma of molecular biology.