1. DNA -> RNA -> Proteins
The basic language of all living things.

2. A Gene A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a specific protein
Only a very small percentage of our DNA (perhaps 1%) actually does this

3. RNA - ribonucleic acid RNA is short compared to DNA
RNA has one strand instead of two
C, G, A, and U (uracil) instead of C,G,A, and T
(U takes the place of T)

4. Messenger RNA
DNA is a large and bulky molecules, it does not travel well, so when it wants to make a protein it makes and mRNA copy of the instructions

5. Transcription
This process is called transcription, because the DNA transcribes “copies” itself
It takes advantage of base pairing

6. RNA Polymerase
An enzyme called RNA Polymerase makes all of this happen
The enzyme puts the new nucleotides in place

7. mRNA finds a ribosome
mRNA moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm of the cell where it finds a ribosome
The ribosome is made of RNA and it will serve as a work bench for making proteins

8. Translation
Once attached to the ribosome, the mRNA is translated from the language of nucleic acids to the language of amino acids
Each three letter word or “codon” calls for one amino acids

9. tRNA
It is the job of the transfer RNA is to transfer the correct amino acid to the correct mRNA codon

10. Polypeptide chain In this way a polypeptide is made
Each time a a tRNA connects to a mRNA one amino acid is added to the growing chain

11. Summary Can you label all of the parts in this diagram? A_________
DNA
mRNA
Amino Acid
tRNA
Ribosome