The Science of Existence (143) Genetics Synopsis

Synopsis

▫ Organisms are largely built of, and operate, via proteins. The artifactual rules for the construction and activities of proteins are coded in polynucleotides: DNA & RNA.

▫ DNA became the preferred form of storage for genetic data because it is stabler than RNA. Yet, in the process of extracting information content, DNA is first transcribed to RNA (transcription). RNA is then read (via translation) to render biological products, notably proteins.

▫ The macromolecules of life are characterized by their chemistry, information content, and spatial conformity. The origami of proteins and polynucleotides is critical to their performance. The intricacies of these compounds are astounding, as is the intelligence involved in their fabrication and employment.