Genetic material controls the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms. Its Inheritance occurs through passing down of chemical information such as genes and DNA from one generation to another. Variation in characteristics like skin color comes as a result of an organism containing genetic information for that specific characteristic. Therefore, genetic material possessed by organisms through the process of protein synthesis controls the development of characteristics and interference to the process may disrupt both cellular and bodily processes.
DNA through protein synthesis is responsible for the expression of characteristics in living organisms. DNA is linked to protein synthesis through its transcription into RNS followed by translation into protein. The cell is comprised of proteins that eventually make up the characteristics of organisms. Thousands of different protein types are found in the cells, and the presence of certain particular proteins dictate an organism’s characteristics. The book, The Selfish Gene explains that “The genes determine a protein sequence that influences X that influences Y that influences Z that eventually influences the…cellular wiring up of the nervous system (Alper, 2011).”Genes are DNA sections that can be attributed to particular physical characteristics. DNA decodes various traits of an organism. Each of these characteristics is encoded in a gene, a specific DNA region. Genes of particular traits undergo transcription, a process whereby the recognizable make-up language of the body is transcribed from one cell language to another (Wallace & Wilson, 2016). This is essentially the conversion of DNA to RNA. Translation of the information from RNA into the actual product then protein follows. Specific proteins play specific bodily roles. A simple illustration of how DNA regulates the expression of characteristics is found in the case of melanin production in people residing in the tropical regions of the world. Melanin is a protein found in the skin. It protects people from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. People in the tropics tend to have a darker complexion when exposed to the sun’s rays due to the protective action of melanin. The gene which encodes the production of melanin is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into melanin protein (Wallace & Wilson, 2016).
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Genes play a significant role in directing the production of proteins. Most genes possess the information required to produce functional molecules commonly referred to as proteins. The conversion genes to proteins are not only complex but also tightly controlled. Transcription allows for the information stored in the DNA of a gene to be transferred to the Ribonucleic acid (RNA) that is found in the nucleus of a cell (Wallace & Wilson, 2016). Both DNA and RNA comprise of a chain of nucleotide bases. However, their chemical properties slightly differ. The messenger RNA (mRNA) contains the information necessary for protein synthesis (Wallace & Wilson, 2016). It carries this information from the DNA, which is found inside the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Translation then follows in the cytoplasm. The process involves an interaction between the mRNA and a ribosome that “reads” the sequence of RNA bases. The codon, a particular sequence of three bases, codes one amino acid. Transfer RNA (tRNA) then assembles the protein sequentially, one amino acid at a time. Protein assembly continues until the ribosomes encounter “stop” codons. A “stop” codon is another sequence of three bases. However, unlike the “read” codon, the “stop” codon does not code for the amino acids (Wallace & Wilson, 2016).
The process of translation results in protein synthesis. Complete protein synthesis takes place when the ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA are linearly aligned with amino acids (Esterhouse & Petrinos, 2009). Interference in the process may result in the disruption of both cellular and bodily processes due to the incompletion of transcribed data. A practical example where interference of protein synthesis disrupts cellular and bodily processes can be found in medical applications. Since protein synthesis is crucial for the growth of cells, medicines that kill cells target this process. A large number of antibiotics work through the disruption of the translation process. For instance, Streptomycin causes an increase in the number of mistakes made during the translation process. Since erroneous proteins are incapable of performing their tasks, the cells (bacteria) dies. Furthermore, Streptomycin can also completely inhibit the initiation of the synthesis process (Wallace & Wilson, 2016).
Enzymes play a significant role in proper nutrition through their biochemistry. They are involved in metabolism and therefore determine which compounds the body will get. This is because specific enzymes catalyze certain reactions. They utilize certain substrates and leave out others (Wallace & Wilson, 2016). In doing this, enzymes are very specific in the products they create. Additionally, they may require certain co-factors like minerals to function properly. Metabolism is therefore based upon the availability or absenteeism of certain enzymes (Dixon, 2014). As a result, organisms either create what they need with the help of enzymes or get it from their diet. Similarly, elements that are unsuitable for the cells can be controlled through either exclusion from an organism’s diet, enzymatic breakdown, or excretion.
References
Alper, G. (2011). The selfish gene philosophy . Bethesda: Academica Press.
Dixon, M. (2014). Enzymes . Elsevier Science.
Esterhouse, T., & Petrinos, L. (2009). Protein biosynthesis . New York: Nova Science.
Wallace, S., & Wilson, S. (2016). Spotlight on DNA repair and responses to DNA damage. DNA Repair , 37 , A2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dnarep.2015.12.008
