What is the name of the process that produces RNA from a DNA template?
What is the name of the process that produces a polypeptide from an RNA template?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the first part of the question, which asks for the name of the process that produces RNA from a DNA template. This process is a fundamental step in gene expression and involves the synthesis of RNA using DNA as a template.
2. Step 2: Recall that the enzyme responsible for this process is RNA polymerase, which binds to the DNA at a specific region called the promoter and facilitates the synthesis of RNA.
3. Step 3: Learn that this process is called 'transcription,' where the DNA sequence is transcribed into a complementary RNA sequence.
4. Step 4: For the second part of the question, understand that it asks for the name of the process that produces a polypeptide (protein) from an RNA template. This process involves decoding the RNA sequence into a chain of amino acids.
5. Step 5: Recall that this process is called 'translation,' where the ribosome reads the mRNA sequence and tRNA molecules bring the corresponding amino acids to form a polypeptide chain.

Key Concepts

Transcription

Transcription is the process by which RNA is synthesized from a DNA template. During this process, the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a specific region of the DNA and unwinds the double helix. It then synthesizes a single strand of RNA by adding complementary RNA nucleotides to the growing chain, effectively copying the genetic information encoded in the DNA.

Translation

Translation is the process through which a polypeptide chain is synthesized from an RNA template, specifically messenger RNA (mRNA). This occurs in the ribosome, where the mRNA sequence is read in sets of three nucleotides, called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, facilitating the assembly of the polypeptide.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system, typically summarized as DNA → RNA → Protein. This framework outlines how genetic information is first transcribed from DNA into RNA and then translated into proteins, which perform various functions in the cell. Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping how genes dictate cellular functions and traits.