Protein synthesis

• Proteins are made by reading the code in DNA
• A gene is a section of DNA which codes for a protein
• Proteins are made up of amino acids
• Each amino acid is coded for by a sequence of 3 bases (a triplet code)
• Protein synthesis

  1. DNA unzips and unwinds
  2. The DNA is used as a template to make the mRNA. (This is known as Transcription)
  3. The mRNA molecule then moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm and joins with a ribosome
  4. Amino acids that match the triplet codes on the mRNA are joined together in the correct order, making the protein.
  5. The amino acids are delivered by another ribosome (tRNA). (This is known as Translation)