How does the sequence of DNA determine the sequence of amino acids?

The sequence of DNA determines the sequence of amino acids through the process of transcription and translation.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms. It is composed of two strands coiled around each other to form a double helix, each strand made up of a sequence of four different types of nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The sequence of these nucleotides forms the genetic code, which determines the sequence of amino acids in proteins.

The process begins with transcription, where the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into a molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). This process is carried out by an enzyme called RNA polymerase, which binds to the DNA and separates the two strands. It then uses one of the DNA strands as a template to assemble a complementary sequence of RNA nucleotides. The mRNA molecule then detaches from the DNA and moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm of the cell.

Once in the cytoplasm, the mRNA molecule is read by a ribosome in a process called translation. The ribosome reads the sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA three at a time, each triplet of nucleotides, known as a codon, corresponds to a specific amino acid. The ribosome then links these amino acids together in the order specified by the mRNA to form a polypeptide chain, which folds into a specific shape to form a protein.

The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its structure and function. Therefore, the sequence of nucleotides in the DNA, through the processes of transcription and translation, determines the sequence of amino acids in proteins, and thus the traits of an organism.

In summary, the sequence of DNA determines the sequence of amino acids through the process of transcription, where the DNA sequence is copied into mRNA, and translation, where the mRNA is read by a ribosome to assemble a chain of amino acids. This process is fundamental to the functioning of all living organisms.