How do genetic instructions in DNA lead to protein formation?

Genetic instructions in DNA lead to protein formation through the processes of transcription and translation.

The process of protein formation from DNA instructions is a two-step process: transcription and translation. This is collectively known as gene expression. The DNA in our cells contains the instructions for making proteins, which are crucial for all the functions of our body.

In the first step, transcription, the DNA's genetic information is copied into a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). This process takes place in the nucleus of the cell. The DNA double helix unwinds and one strand acts as a template for the synthesis of mRNA. This mRNA molecule is a complementary copy of the DNA sequence and carries the genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes, the protein factories of the cell.

The second step, translation, occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell, specifically on the ribosomes. The mRNA molecule attaches to the ribosome and is read three bases at a time. Each set of three bases, called a codon, corresponds to a specific amino acid. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules carry the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, where they are linked together in the order specified by the mRNA. This chain of amino acids folds into a specific shape to form a protein.

The type of protein produced depends on the sequence of the DNA that was transcribed and translated. Each protein has a unique function in the body, from enzymes that speed up chemical reactions, to antibodies that fight infections, to structural proteins that give cells their shape. Therefore, the genetic instructions in DNA are crucial for the formation and function of proteins in our bodies.