Final answer:
In cell biology, DNA's role is like the instruction manual for a bike, while ribosomes in the cytoplasm translate the instructions carried by mRNA to assemble proteins, much like putting together the bike.
Step-by-step explanation:
Just as when you buy a bike and it comes with instructions for assembly, in the cell, protein synthesis is akin to this process. DNA in the nucleus serves as the instructions or 'blueprint' for making proteins, which are essential for various cellular functions. To 'read' the DNA instructions and assemble the proteins, an intermediary called messenger RNA (mRNA) is produced.
This RNA copies the DNA's instructions and exits the nucleus to enter the cytoplasm where ribosomes are located. The ribosomes, acting much like workers piecing together the bike, translate the mRNA and join amino acids in the specific order dictated by the mRNA sequence to form polypeptide chains, which fold into functioning proteins. The creation of proteins is a critical part of gene expression, which enables cells to carry out necessary tasks, from structural support to facilitating biochemical reactions.