How does information in a gene become a protein?
Information from a gene is first copied into RNA, which the cell then uses to build a protein.
Illustration: Nauka Prosto, created with AI assistance.
A gene contains an instruction, but it is not itself a protein. Before the cell can use that instruction, the information in DNA is copied into an RNA molecule. This process is called transcription.
The cell then uses the RNA as a template for building a protein. A ribosome reads the RNA sequence and joins amino acids together in a specific order. This process is called translation.
The order of the genetic “letters” ultimately helps determine the amino acid sequence of the protein. The protein’s structure then shapes its function. Proteins can catalyse chemical reactions, transmit signals, defend the body, transport molecules, or form cellular structures.
Not all genes encode proteins. Some genes produce functional RNA molecules that perform important roles on their own. However, for protein-coding genes, the pathway from DNA to RNA to protein is a central principle of cell biology.
This process connects stored genetic information with actual biological function.
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