To express information in a DNA molecule, an organism follows a specific process:
1. **Transcription**: The first step is the transcription process, where the information in a DNA molecule is converted into messenger RNA (mRNA). This occurs in the cell's nucleus and involves an enzyme called RNA polymerase that reads the DNA sequence and synthesizes a complementary mRNA strand.
2. **mRNA Processing**: The newly formed mRNA undergoes processing where non-coding regions (introns) are removed, and the remaining coding regions (exons) are spliced together to form a mature mRNA molecule.
3. **Translation**: The mature mRNA then moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis. During translation, ribosomes read the mRNA sequence in groups of three nucleotides called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, allowing the ribosome to assemble a chain of amino acids, forming a protein.
4. **Protein Synthesis**: As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, it recruits transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules carrying the corresponding amino acids. The amino acids are joined together in the order specified by the mRNA sequence, ultimately producing a specific protein based on the genetic information encoded in the DNA.
By following these steps of transcription, mRNA processing, translation, and protein synthesis, an organism can effectively express the information stored in its DNA molecule, ultimately leading to the production of specific proteins that carry out various functions within the cell and contribute to the organism's structure and function.
