Final answer:
The structure of DNA determines protein structure through the processes of transcription, where DNA is copied into mRNA, and translation, where the mRNA sequence is used to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain at the ribosome with the help of tRNA and rRNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Students will be able to construct an explanation for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins by focusing on the processes of transcription and translation. In the transcription process, which occurs in the cell nucleus, the DNA is read and a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule is produced. This mRNA molecule is a complementary copy of the DNA's nucleotide sequence and mirrors its genetic instructions.
During translation, which takes place at the ribosome, the mRNA provides the code for a protein. This involves the transfer RNA (tRNA), which carries the correct amino acids to the ribosome based on the sequence of the mRNA. The ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is also involved, helping to form peptide bonds between amino acids, resulting in a polypeptide chain. Once the polypeptide chain is synthesized, it may undergo additional processing to become a functional protein.
Mutations in the DNA sequence can be a source of genetic variance and may affect the resultant protein's structure and function. The entire process from DNA, to mRNA, to a functional protein is a fundamental concept known as the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology.