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How does a cell know to make a particular protein?
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Kiva
How does a cell know to make a particular protein?
Of course, you probably know that DNA codes for mRNAs, which then code for the amino acid sequences of particular proteins. The simple answer is that different segments of the DNA are activated or inactivated in different types of cells, so that different sets of proteins are made in lung cells and in neurons, etc.
Activated areas of DNA are nucleoli, stained green in this micrograph. For reference, the red areas are stained mitochondria, and the blue circle is the nucleus, which is packed full of DNA. The green areas are nucleoli, where the DNA is actively making RNA.
Of course, you probably know that DNA codes for mRNAs, which then code for the amino acid sequences of particular proteins. The simple answer is that different segments of the DNA are activated or inactivated in different types of cells, so that different sets of proteins are made in lung cells and in neurons, etc.
Activated areas of DNA are nucleoli, stained green in this micrograph. For reference, the red areas are stained mitochondria, and the blue circle is the nucleus, which is packed full of DNA. The green areas are nucleoli, where the DNA is actively making RNA.
DNA, a double stranded molecule, is the genetic material of a cell. It contains the instructions for making all the proteins of the cell. When cells divide, they pass along their DNA to the daughter cells. This is called mitosis.
RNA is similar to DNA but is shorter and single stranded.. It carries the same type of information as DNA, but it doesn't contain the instructions for building proteins. Instead, RNA directs the synthesis of proteins.
Proteins are the workhorses of the cell. They carry out all the functions of the cell. They help transport materials around the cell, store energy, signal molecules, and even move parts of the cell from place to place.
The answer of your question is quite simple now. A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein. When a cell needs to produce a certain protein, it looks for the corresponding gene in its genome. If it finds the right gene, then it starts making the protein.
If a cell doesn't find the correct gene, then it makes a mistake and produces a wrong protein. This happens often in cancer cells. They may lose their ability to regulate genes properly, and they end up producing too many proteins that cause problems.
A cell can only make one protein at a time. So, when a cell wants to make a protein, it first checks whether it already has the necessary gene. If it doesn't, then it goes ahead and makes the protein. Once the protein is finished, the cell stops making it.
So, we can say that a cell knows what protein to make by looking at the gene sequence.
DNA, a double stranded molecule, is the genetic material of a cell. It contains the instructions for making all the proteins of the cell. When cells divide, they pass along their DNA to the daughter cells. This is called mitosis.
RNA is similar to DNA but is shorter and single stranded.. It carries the same type of information as DNA, but it doesn't contain the instructions for building proteins. Instead, RNA directs the synthesis of proteins.
Proteins are the workhorses of the cell. They carry out all the functions of the cell. They help transport materials around the cell, store energy, signal molecules, and even move parts of the cell from place to place.
The answer of your question is quite simple now. A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein. When a cell needs to produce a certain protein, it looks for the corresponding gene in its genome. If it finds the right gene, then it starts making the protein.
If a cell doesn't find the correct gene, then it makes a mistake and produces a wrong protein. This happens often in cancer cells. They may lose their ability to regulate genes properly, and they end up producing too many proteins that cause problems.
A cell can only make one protein at a time. So, when a cell wants to make a protein, it first checks whether it already has the necessary gene. If it doesn't, then it goes ahead and makes the protein. Once the protein is finished, the cell stops making it.
So, we can say that a cell knows what protein to make by looking at the gene sequence.
Of course, you probably know that DNA codes for mRNAs, which then code for the amino acid sequences of particular proteins. The simple answer is that different segments of the DNA are activated or inactivated in different types of cells, so that different sets of proteins are made in lung cells and in neurons, etc.
Activated areas of DNA are nucleoli, stained green in this micrograph. For reference, the red areas are stained mitochondria, and the blue circle is the nucleus, which is packed full of DNA. The green areas are nucleoli, where the DNA is actively making RNA.
Of course, you probably know that DNA codes for mRNAs, which then code for the amino acid sequences of particular proteins. The simple answer is that different segments of the DNA are activated or inactivated in different types of cells, so that different sets of proteins are made in lung cells and in neurons, etc.
Activated areas of DNA are nucleoli, stained green in this micrograph. For reference, the red areas are stained mitochondria, and the blue circle is the nucleus, which is packed full of DNA. The green areas are nucleoli, where the DNA is actively making RNA.
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DNA, a double stranded molecule, is the genetic material of a cell. It contains the instructions for making all the proteins of the cell. When cells divide, they pass along their DNA to the daughter cells. This is called mitosis.
RNA is similar to DNA but is shorter and single stranded.. It carries the same type of information as DNA, but it doesn't contain the instructions for building proteins. Instead, RNA directs the synthesis of proteins.
Proteins are the workhorses of the cell. They carry out all the functions of the cell. They help transport materials around the cell, store energy, signal molecules, and even move parts of the cell from place to place.
The answer of your question is quite simple now. A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein. When a cell needs to produce a certain protein, it looks for the corresponding gene in its genome. If it finds the right gene, then it starts making the protein.
If a cell doesn't find the correct gene, then it makes a mistake and produces a wrong protein. This happens often in cancer cells. They may lose their ability to regulate genes properly, and they end up producing too many proteins that cause problems.
A cell can only make one protein at a time. So, when a cell wants to make a protein, it first checks whether it already has the necessary gene. If it doesn't, then it goes ahead and makes the protein. Once the protein is finished, the cell stops making it.
So, we can say that a cell knows what protein to make by looking at the gene sequence.
DNA, a double stranded molecule, is the genetic material of a cell. It contains the instructions for making all the proteins of the cell. When cells divide, they pass along their DNA to the daughter cells. This is called mitosis.
RNA is similar to DNA but is shorter and single stranded.. It carries the same type of information as DNA, but it doesn't contain the instructions for building proteins. Instead, RNA directs the synthesis of proteins.
Proteins are the workhorses of the cell. They carry out all the functions of the cell. They help transport materials around the cell, store energy, signal molecules, and even move parts of the cell from place to place.
The answer of your question is quite simple now. A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein. When a cell needs to produce a certain protein, it looks for the corresponding gene in its genome. If it finds the right gene, then it starts making the protein.
If a cell doesn't find the correct gene, then it makes a mistake and produces a wrong protein. This happens often in cancer cells. They may lose their ability to regulate genes properly, and they end up producing too many proteins that cause problems.
A cell can only make one protein at a time. So, when a cell wants to make a protein, it first checks whether it already has the necessary gene. If it doesn't, then it goes ahead and makes the protein. Once the protein is finished, the cell stops making it.
So, we can say that a cell knows what protein to make by looking at the gene sequence.
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