Cellular Mass Production

The genetic code in the nucleus determines exactly what kind of proteins the cell is going to manufacture in order to build itself.

In the cycle of life, amino acids are converted into proteins by the cells under the direction of DNA. The organism then breaks the proteins down into amino acids to begin the cycle over again.

These proteins are actually built inside the cell.

But the instructions are in the nucleus!

How does the code get out of the nucleus and into the cell proper?

Enter RNA:

DNA is found only in the nucleus. 

In order to get out of the nucleus the DNA produces sections of itself that have one atom replaced.

The atom is Thymine and it is replaced with Uracil.

This chemical is called RNA. It allows the code to sneak out of the nucleus into the cell.

Except for the replaced atom, it is the same in all respects as the DNA.

The cell uses this form of the code to direct the building of all of the proteins in the cell.

The triplets of RNA bind to sites on the Ribosome. These sites are arranged like a template. Amino acids floating in the cell are attracted to and bind to the triplets of RNA. When the sequence is finished the completed protein is released.

This is very similar to the construction of sentences.

Consider the following two sentences.

"For supper we are going to have meat with potatoes and carrots".

"For supper we are going to have peat with potatoes and carrots".

They differ in only a single letter, yet the second sentence is rendered meaningless.

It is the "pattern" that is all important!