Define the central dogma of molecular biology, and describe each of the processe

Question

Define the central dogma of molecular biology, and describe each of the processes that this entails. Then, elaborate on your description to explain, biochemically, what causes different cells in our body to have different shapes, structures, and functions? For example, what causes a human cardiac muscle cell to be different in structure and function from a nerve cell? Is it a difference in DNA? Expression? Protein function? How do we have so many different cells in our body that function in so many different ways?

Explanation / Answer

The central dogma of life:
DNA ------> RNA -----> Protein
DNA ------> DNA: Replication: It is mediated by DNA polymerase
DNA ------> RNA: Transcription: It is mediated by RNA polymerase
RNA -----> Protein: Translation: It is mediated by the ribosome, tRNA, and amino acids.

In a human cell, DNA serves as the genetic material. It contains all the information for the proper growth and development of the cell. DNA codes for RNA which contains coding information to specify a protein sequence. A protein is the structural and functional component of a cell. All the cells in the body contain almost identical genome sequence (except for few immune system cells). However, all cells do not express all the genes all the time. Each tissue type expresses a specific set of genes at specific time period i.e. temporal and spatial expression. Such genes are known as tissue-specific genes. These tissue-specific genes are responsible for different structures and functions of different tissues in our body. The tissue-specific gene expression is mediated by epigenetic as well as transcriptional gene regulation.

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