The production of proteins involves two major steps: transcription and translation. Together, transcription and translation are known as gene expression.
The process of "transcription" only involves two molecules: DNA and RNA. A DNA strand provides a template for the synthesis of a complementary RNA strand. This process is used to synthesize any type of RNA from a DNA template. Transcription of a gene produces a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.
How do genes direct the production of proteins? - Genetics Home Reference via kwout
To complete gene expression, "translation" will then follow. The information contained in the order of nucleotides in mRNA is used to determine the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. Translation occurs at ribosomes.
A type of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA) assembles the protein, one amino acid at a time. Protein assembly continues until the ribosome encounters a “stop” codon (a sequence of three bases that does not code for an amino acid).
Taken together, they make up the "central dogma" of biology: DNA⇒RNA⇒protein.
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