Final answer:
Protein synthesis consists of two main steps: transcription, where DNA is transcribed into mRNA within the nucleus, and translation, where mRNA is used to assemble a polypeptide chain of amino acids that folds into a functional protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
General Process of Protein Synthesis
The general process of protein synthesis involves two main steps: transcription and translation. During transcription, DNA is unwound to allow the synthesis of a complementary strand of messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic code out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm. This step occurs within the nucleus of the cell. In the second step, translation, the mRNA interacts with transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomes to translate the genetic code into a specific sequence of amino acids, forming a polypeptide chain that will become a functional protein.
During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is transcribed into mRNA, which then exits the nucleus. The mRNA carries the code that dictates the amino acid sequence for the protein. During translation, the mRNA is read by the ribosome, and tRNA molecules bring the appropriate amino acids in sequence to form the polypeptide chain. Once completed, the polypeptide chain folds into its functional three-dimensional protein structure.