Protein Synthesis

A gene codes for a specific protein:

• A gene is a section of DNA. It contains the instructions to make a specfic protein.

• Cells make proteins by stringing amino acids together in a particular order.

• Only 20 different amino acids are used to make up thousands of different proteins.

• The order of the bases in a gene simply tells in what order to put the amino acids together:
  • Each set of three bases (called a triplet) codes for a particular amino acid.
  • TAT codes for tyrosine and GNA for alanine.

• DNA also determines which genes will be turned on and off - and so which proteins the cell produces, e.g. haemoglobin or keratin. That in turn determines what type of cell it is, e.g. red blood cell or skin cell.

• Some of the proteins help to make all the other things that aren't made of protein (like cell membranes) from substances that come from your diet…