Final answer:
Genetic information in DNA is used to build proteins through a process called protein synthesis, involving transcription and translation. Genes determine physical traits by encoding specific proteins that influence structure and function, ultimately shaping the organism's phenotype.
Step-by-step explanation:
Decoding Genetic Information and Protein Synthesis
The genetic information in DNA is decoded and used to build proteins through a process known as protein synthesis. This multistep process starts with DNA in the cell's nucleus. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic information to the ribosomes, the site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm. Here, the process of translation occurs, where transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the corresponding amino acids to the ribosome to assemble a protein based on the sequence encoded in the mRNA. This is the essence of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology, which states that genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins.
Genes and Physical Traits
Genes determine an organism's physical traits by dictating the structure of proteins. Each gene contains instructions for a specific protein that influences particular traits or functions. These proteins are responsible for various cellular processes and structures, and their cumulative effect determines the phenotype, the observable characteristics of an organism. Thus, while genes are the units of inheritance carrying genetic information, it is the proteins they encode that ultimately shape an organism's traits.
Regarding the student's questions: The best answer is 'b' as the first question relates to protein synthesis, and the second relates to inheritance through gene expression which informs the organism's physical traits.