Chapter 23, Problem 78A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The roles of DNA and RNA in the production of proteins should be explained.

Concept introduction:

Large molecules which are made up of nucleotides chain is known as nucleic acid. Nucleic acid stores the genetic information in the biological systems.

Explanation of Solution

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid which contains five carbon sugar, a nitrogen base and a phosphate group. It stores the biological information or gene information in a sequence of four bases of nucleic acid: Adenine, cytosine, thymine and guanine. DNA has a structure of double helix. It also stores the replicate genetic information.

RNA stands for ribonucleic acid which converts the information stored in DNA into various proteins. These proteins help in the development of the functioning of a cell. It stores the biological information or gene information in a sequence of four bases of nucleic acid: Adenine, cytosine, uracil and guanine. RNA has a structure of single-stranded.

DNA stores the instruction for making different variety of proteins and after that those instruction are passed to RNA. RNA acts as a messenger between DNA and protein synthesis. The synthesis of proteins takes place in two process transcription and translation. Transcription takes place in the nucleus of cell and base sequence is used from DNA to form mRNA. Now, mRNA forwards the instructions for the production of a protein to the cytoplasm (specifically in ribosomes). In cytoplasm, translation process takes place, translation coverts the information in the form of three letter words series (base sequence) in the mRNA into an amino acid sequence, which is known to be building block of proteins.