What gives you your amino acid chain, DNA or RNA?
The amino acid chain is formed during the process of protein synthesis, which is carried out by ribosomes in the cell. However, the instructions for building the amino acid chain are stored in the genetic material of an organism, which is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in most cases.
DNA contains the genetic information that acts as a blueprint for protein synthesis. This information is transcribed into a molecule called RNA (ribonucleic acid) through a process called transcription. The specific type of RNA involved in protein synthesis is called messenger RNA (mRNA).
During translation, the mRNA carries the instructions from DNA to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. The ribosomes read the mRNA sequence and use it as a template to assemble the amino acids in the correct order, forming a polypeptide chain.
So in summary, although RNA plays a crucial role in the actual synthesis of proteins, it is derived from DNA, which contains the genetic information that ultimately determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein chain.