DNA and the production of proteins

• The nucleus contains chromosomes.
• Chromosomes contain the chemical, DNA.
• All organisms have two sets of genes – one set inherited from their mother and one set

  inherited from their father.
• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the chemical which chromosomes are made of. It carries genetic information.
• DNA is composed of many repeating

  building blocks called nucleotides.
• The double helix of a DNA molecule is held together by pairs of chemicals called bases. There are four types of bases, and they are identified by their initials.
• Weak Hydrogen bonds hold the base pairs together.
• Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecule that carries a

  complementary copy of the genetic code from the

  DNA, in the nucleus, to a ribosome in the

  cytoplasm, where the protein is assembled from

  amino acids.
• mRNA is ‘read’ by a ribosome which uses the code

  to assemble the protein from amino acids.