Genes: DNA's instructions

What are genes?

Specific sections of DNA carry the instructions to make other molecules, usually proteins. These lengths of DNA are called genes. To interpret the DNA code, the cell first makes a copy of the DNA segment to be read. The copy then travels to another part of the cell, where the code is used to assemble a chain of protein subunits.

These processes are called transcription and translation.

From DNA to protein animation

A Flash animation showing how the DNA code is used to build protein molecules inside our cells.

[Wellcome Trust, 207kB]