Gene expression starts with DNA, which has a special code made up of building blocks called nucleotides. This code tells our cells how to make proteins. First, there's a process called transcription that happens in the nucleus, the cell's control center. During transcription, an important enzyme called RNA polymerase reads the DNA and makes a copy of the code in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA).
Once the mRNA is made, it leaves the nucleus and goes into the cytoplasm, which is the jelly-like part of the cell. There, the mRNA is used in a different process called translation. Ribosomes, which are like tiny factories in the cell, read the mRNA and use it to put together a chain of amino acids, creating a polypeptide chain.
Finally, this chain folds into a specific shape to become a functional protein. These proteins can do many important jobs in the cell, like building structure, speeding up chemical reactions, or fighting off germs!