Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

Central Dogma

Conceptual framework of molecular biology: DNA transcribed to RNA, translated to proteins.

Cell

Basic structural and functional unit of living organisms.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, carries genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction.

Transcription

Process of copying DNA into complementary RNA.

mRNA

Messenger RNA: carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis.

Translation

Decoding mRNA into a polypeptide chain or protein.

Ribosome

Cellular machinery where proteins are synthesized.

Polypeptide

Chain of amino acids, precursor to a protein.

Protein Synthesis

Overall process of creating proteins from mRNA instructions.

Flow of Information

Sequence of DNA to RNA to proteins in genetic expression.

RNA Polymerase

Enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.

Uracil

Nitrogenous base in RNA, replaces thymine found in DNA.

Codon

Three-nucleotide sequence on mRNA that codes for an amino acid.

Aminoacyl tRNA

tRNA carrying a specific amino acid to the ribosome during translation.

Anticodon

Sequence of three nucleotides on tRNA that pairs with a complementary codon on mRNA.

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA, a component of ribosomes essential for protein synthesis.