Gene expression begins with the transcription of DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cell nucleus, where RNA polymerase synthesizes the mRNA strand based on the DNA template. The mRNA then undergoes processing, including splicing and the addition of a 5' cap and poly-A tail, before being transported to the cytoplasm for translation. Finally, ribosomes read the mRNA sequence and assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, resulting in the formation of functional proteins, which perform various roles in the cell.
In 3 sentences, construct a summary of the process of gene expression, starting with DNA and ending with proteins.
3 answers
Answer like an 11th grader
Gene expression starts with DNA, which gets copied into messenger RNA (mRNA) through a process called transcription in the cell's nucleus. After that, the mRNA is processed and then sent out into the cytoplasm, where it gets translated by ribosomes into a chain of amino acids, forming proteins. These proteins are important because they carry out many functions in the cell and help determine how the organism develops and functions.