Why learn about DNA transcription and translation?
By now you’re familiar with genes and DNA sequences and how changes in the DNA can have a big impact. But the question still remains . . . how? How does DNA cause anything to happen?
Our bodies contain trillions of cells that need to be constructed in very precise ways. Much like when a construction company creates blueprints before they actually begin a project, your body needs some kind of plan to accomplish this.
DNA acts as a blueprint. With this plan in every cell, your body is able to convert DNA into action molecules, which are proteins, by way of an intermediary, RNA. This idea is so central to biology that it is often called the central dogma of biology: DNA is transcribed to RNA which is translated to protein. This multi-step process is one of the reasons for the diversity we see in the world around us.
Candela Citations
- Why It Matters: DNA Transcription and Translation. Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
- Joy Oil gas station blueprints. Provided by: Joy Oil Co Ltd. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joy_Oil_gas_station_blueprints.jpg. License: Public Domain: No Known Copyright