From Gene to Protein

How does DNA, the genetic material, store information that determines an organism's trait? What does a gene actually express or "say" to make a specific organism develop? DNA is basically a molecule made up of two long chains of building blocks called nucleotides that form a double helix that is held by links between the two chains, each link of a chain is one of four kinds of chemical building blocks abbreviated A, T, C, and G, arranged in a specific sequence and it is this sequence that gives DNA its meaning (analogues to how letters of the alphabet are arranged to give meaningful words). So how does a linear sequence of nucleotides code for an organism that is three dimensional?
When you look at an organism it is not DNA you are looking at that reflect s its color or holds its texture, but it is what DNA expresses that gives an organism its specific characteristic. DNA is decoded into diverse three dimensional molecules called proteins, which are the functional units of the cell. If we consider skin color for example, it is the concentration of a protein called Melanin in skin cells that determines the darkness of an organism's skin color. Proteins have many functions including: playing a role in structural support, storage, transportation, cellular communications, movement, defense against disease, and speeding up chemical reactions. This video illustrates the process of how DNA is decoded into protein.

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Education

Tags:

• Protein
• synthesis