Protein Synthesis
In order to fully explain the process of protein synthesis an understanding of the cell itself is fundamental as all processes occur there. The cell contains carbohydrates (sugars, starch, etc..) found in the cytoplasm and the cell membrane; lipids (fat) composing the structure of cell walls which are also broken down for energy and, most importantly, proteins which are made up of amino acids, nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and nutrients (vitamins, minerals and water). Founded by two scientists, Watson and Krick, in 1953 a detailed understanding of the DNA molecule was released. The DNA molecule is composed of two chains of even smaller molecules called nucleotides. A nucleotide is made up of three components: a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), a phosphate unit, and one of four nitrogenous bases. In DNA, nucleotides are stacked up to form a chain that is bonded along its bases to another complementary nucleotide chain. The functions of DNA rely on the bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) in the formation of the double helix it is possible for one type of base to pair, with only one other type (a+t, c+g) this specificity is essential to the DNA's ability to replicate (DNA is the only molecule to have this capacity) and is known as
One of the most important functions of DNA is that it directs protein synthesis within the cell. Proteins are complex, three-dimensional molecules that function through their ability to bind to other molecules. Proteins are the major constituents of all body tissues, they also direct and perform physiological and cellular functions. It is therefore critical that protein synthesis occur accurately, for if it does not, physiological development and activities can be disrupted or even prevented. Proteins are composed of chains of smaller molecules called amino acids. In all, there are 20 amino acids, 8 of which must be obtained from dietary sources. The remaining 12 are produced in cells. DNA serves as a recipe for making protein it is the sequence of DNA bases that ultimately determines the order of amino acids in a protein molecule. In the DNA instructions, a triplet, or group of three bases, specifies a particular amino acid. Protein synthesis occurs outside the nucleus at the ribosomes. the law of base complementarity. Prior to cell division, specific enzymes break the bonds between bases simultaneously at numerous locations in the DNA molecule, leaving the two previously joined strands of nucleotides with their bases exposed. The exposed bases then attract unattached DNA nucleotides, which are already present in the cell nucleus. As each new strand is formed its bases are joined to the bases of an original strand. Upon the completion of the process there are two double stranded DNA molecules exactly like the original one, and each newly formed molecule consists of one original nucleotide chain joined to a newly formed chain. Before I continue I would like to summarize the characteristics of the DNA code in order to further clarify protein synthesis. To begin, the code is universal meaning that the same triplet code specifies each amino acid that applies to all life on earth. By triplet I mean that each amino acid is specifi
Some common words found in the essay are:
Watson Krick, GAU DNA, , Eg DNA, amino acids, protein synthesis, amino acid, DNA RNA, dna bases, dna molecule, specific amino, sequence dna bases, dna code, sequence dna, dna nucleotides, chains molecules called, nucleotide chain, composed chains molecules, specific amino acids, specific amino acid,
Approximate Word count = 1311
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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