Central dogma of molecular biology | Chemical processes | MCAT | Khan Academy

The central dogma of molecular biology explains how genetic information from parents leads to a full-blown human being. Discovered by Watson and Crick, it involves the transfer of sequential information, famously summarized as "DNA makes RNA makes protein."

The three major players are DNA and RNA (nucleic acids made of nucleotides) and proteins (made of amino acids). Information starts in DNA, which can copy itself through replication. DNA is then copied into RNA via transcription, and RNA is used to synthesize protein through translation.

DNA, RNA, and protein are linear polymers, meaning individual units (monomers) are connected in a series. The specific sequence of these monomers encodes information, which is faithfully transferred from DNA to RNA to protein. Each polymer sequence acts as a template for the next.

To remember the terms: replication means DNA makes an exact copy of itself. Transcription is like going from one written script (nucleic acid) to another, as both DNA and RNA use a nucleic acid alphabet. Translation is like translating one language (nucleic acid) to another (amino acid), as it involves different building blocks.

The central dogma can be simply remembered as: DNA makes RNA, which makes protein. This fundamental process is essential for life.