Dna Translation Explained

During the process of DNA translation, a small ribosomal subunit attaches to a mRNA molecule. At that moment, an initiator tRNA molecule recognizes and binds to a specific codon sequence on the same mRNA molecule. A large ribosomal subunit then adds to the newly formed complex. The initiator tRNA resides in one binding site of the ribosome called the P site, so the second binding site is left, while the A site is open. When a new tRNA molecule recognizes the next codon sequence on the mRNA, it attaches to the open A binding site. A peptide bond forms connecting the amino acid attached to the tRNA in the P site to the amino acid attached to the tRNA in the A binding site.

The DNA molecule looks like a ladder, in a sense that it consists of two halves of chains of nucleotide subunits. During DNA translation, the most important thing is that inherited information is passed correctly. During the process of DNA translation, the two halves of DNA separate and new halves are made. It takes place before a cell divides. Because of specific base pairing, the inherited information is copied exactly. Despite this, a mistake sometimes occurs and the sequences of bases is altered. This changes the sequence of amino acids in a protein. This is called mutation. Radiation increases the risk of mutation.

In 2004, chemists at the New York University invented a device that enables DNA translation of entire DNA sequences, hence it can be used as a factory for assembling the building blocks of new materials. This invention has the potential of creating new synthetic fibers, advance the encryption of information, and improve DNA-based computation. Graduate student Shiping Liao and Professor Nadrian C. Seeman are the brainpower behind this project. The device basically mimics the process by RNA replicas of DNA sequences are translated to create protein sequences. Here is how Seeman explained it: "The device is a machine to make specific DNA sequences by imitating the ribosome's translational capabilities."

DNA translation works in the following way. The ribosome, which is like the protein-making machinery in our cells, reads the mRNA sequence and translates it into the amino acid sequence of the protein. The ribosome starts at a given sequence, then reads three nucleotides at a time, each of which specifies a particular amino acid. Then there are stop codons which tell the ribosome that the protein is complete.