and how DNA controls the production of polypeptides:
it occurs in two steps : Transcription and Translation:
A. transcription is the synthesis of RNA from DNA. It occurs in the nucleus.
1. The 2 strands of DNA separate
2. The free floating RNA nucleotides in pair up to their complimentary bases (ie A-U and C-G)
3. The newly formed strand of mRNA leaves the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm for translation
B:TRANSLATION- is the synthesis of proteins from mRNA and it occurs in the cytoplasm
1. The mRNA binds to a ribosome
2. tRNA molecules in the cytoplasm each carry a specific amino acid to the ribosome. The amino acid is determined by the anti-codon at one end of the tRNA molecule
3. Starting at one end the complimentary anti-codon attaches to the first codon of mRNA
4. A second tRNA attaches to the next codon of mRNA
5. The 2 adjacent amino acids are joined together by a peptide bond
6. The first tRNA is released and the process is repeated until the polypeptide is complete and the ribosome reaches a stop codon.
I hope that helped you