Question

What does the central dogma of genetics describe?

a. The pathway of gene expression from DNA to RNA to protein
b. The fact that every living organism has genetic material composed of DNA
c. The structure of a chromosome
d. The way that natural selection results in evolution

Answer 1

The central dogma of genetics describes the process by which information in DNA is transcribed into mRNA and then translated into protein, accounting for gene expression and protein synthesis in cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central dogma of genetics describes the flow of genetic information within a cell, specifically outlining the process by which genetic information is transferred from DNA to mRNA (messenger RNA) to a protein. This fundamental concept in molecular biology indicates that genes specify the sequences of mRNAs, which then serve as templates for protein synthesis. It involves two critical steps: transcription, where DNA is used to create an mRNA copy, and translation, where the mRNA copy is read to build proteins. This concept is pivotal because it illustrates how genetic information encoded in DNA is ultimately expressed as functional proteins that carry out cellular functions.