genes contain instructions for assembling
proteins
proteins, which are the building blocks of life. Each gene is a specific sequence of DNA nucleotides that code for a particular protein or set of proteins. The process of assembling a protein from DNA instructions is known as gene expression.
The first step in gene expression is transcription, where a segment of the DNA molecule containing a gene is copied into a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). This happens when an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to the beginning of a gene and reads the DNA sequence, creating a complementary strand of RNA by pairing complementary RNA nucleotides with the DNA nucleotides.
Once the mRNA molecule is complete, it moves out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm of the cell, where it connects with a ribosome. The ribosome reads the sequence of genetic instructions carried by the mRNA and translates them into a sequence of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. This process is known as translation.
The ribosome assembles a protein by joining amino acids together in the order specified by the mRNA molecule. The completed protein is released from the ribosome and folded into its three-dimensional shape, which determines its function within the cell.
Therefore, genes contain the instructions required to assemble proteins which play pivotal roles in the growth, development, and biological functions of organisms.
More Answers:
Unraveling the Three Key RNA Types: mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA’s Role in Protein SynthesisThe Double Helix Structure of DNA: A Breakthrough Discovery by Watson and Crick in 1953
Decoding the Language of Life: The Significance of Codon Sequence in Protein Synthesis