DNA is like a master blueprint for making proteins in our bodies. It does this through a cool process that happens in several steps. Let’s break it down:
Transcription: First, the DNA opens up, and a part called a gene gets copied into something called messenger RNA (mRNA). You can think of this as taking a photocopy of a part of an instruction manual.
Translation: After that, the mRNA leaves the nucleus (the cell’s control center) and travels to the ribosome, which is the cell’s protein factory. Here, the ribosome reads the mRNA in groups of three bases. These groups are called codons.
Amino Acids: Each codon stands for a specific amino acid, which are the tiny building blocks that make up proteins.
Protein Assembly: The ribosome then links these amino acids together to build a protein, just like following the instructions from the mRNA.
This whole process is really important because proteins do so many jobs in living things. They can act as enzymes to speed up chemical reactions or serve as antibodies to help fight off germs!
DNA is like a master blueprint for making proteins in our bodies. It does this through a cool process that happens in several steps. Let’s break it down:
Transcription: First, the DNA opens up, and a part called a gene gets copied into something called messenger RNA (mRNA). You can think of this as taking a photocopy of a part of an instruction manual.
Translation: After that, the mRNA leaves the nucleus (the cell’s control center) and travels to the ribosome, which is the cell’s protein factory. Here, the ribosome reads the mRNA in groups of three bases. These groups are called codons.
Amino Acids: Each codon stands for a specific amino acid, which are the tiny building blocks that make up proteins.
Protein Assembly: The ribosome then links these amino acids together to build a protein, just like following the instructions from the mRNA.
This whole process is really important because proteins do so many jobs in living things. They can act as enzymes to speed up chemical reactions or serve as antibodies to help fight off germs!