Figure 2.
The translation of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) genetic message into a protein. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) differs from DNA in having ribose sugar units rather than deoxyribose and uracil (U) rather than thymine (T) as a nucleotide base. a. Overview of transcription using one strand of DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA) and translation to a chain of amino acids (protein) with the help of transfer RNAs (tRNAs). b. After transcription from DNA, mRNA leaves the nucleus and moves to the cytoplasm in eukaryotes. tRNAs carry amino acids and “match” with a triplet codon on the mRNA to create a chain of amino acids in the order coded for in the DNA. c. Diagrammatic view of transcription and translation. Nucleotide bases: C=cytosine, G=guanine, A=adenine. Amino acids: ser=serine, tyr=tyrosine, arg=arginine. (Courtesy G. Schumann)