This how it works covers How It Works: DNA to Protein within DNA Genome for GCSE Biology. DNA structure, function, and the human genome It is section 5 of 12 in this topic. Use this how it works to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 5 of 12
Practice
25 questions
Recall
25 flashcards
How It Works: DNA to Protein
DNA carries genetic information in the sequence of its bases. Groups of three bases (called codons) each code for a specific amino acid. A gene is a section of DNA containing hundreds or thousands of base triplets — long enough to specify the order of amino acids in a complete protein molecule.
When a protein is needed, the relevant section of DNA is copied into a messenger molecule (mRNA) that carries the code out of the nucleus. Ribosomes in the cytoplasm read the mRNA code and link amino acids together in the correct order to build the protein. The protein then folds into its unique 3D shape, which determines its function — whether it becomes an enzyme, a structural protein like collagen, or a hormone like insulin.
Because every organism inherits slightly different base sequences, each organism's proteins are slightly different, producing different characteristics. This is the molecular basis of inheritance: your genome is the master instruction set, genes are individual instructions, and proteins are the physical results of those instructions being carried out.