A DNA gene contains the information needed to produce a specific protein molecule. The first step in making the protein is (take it from here and finish the answer).
The first step in making a protein is called Transcription. In this process, a specific region of the DNA molecule called the gene is transcribed or copied into a molecule called mRNA (messenger RNA). Transcription occurs in the nucleus of a cell and is carried out by an enzyme called RNA polymerase.
During transcription, the DNA molecule unwinds, and the RNA polymerase attaches to one of the DNA strands at the start of the gene. The RNA polymerase then moves along the DNA strand, reading the sequence of nucleotides in the gene.
As the RNA polymerase moves along, it adds nucleotides to the growing mRNA molecule that are complementary to the DNA strand. Adenine (A) in DNA is replaced by uracil (U) in mRNA, cytosine (C) in DNA is replaced by guanine (G) in mRNA, and so on. This complementary base-pairing ensures that the mRNA sequence mirrors the DNA gene sequence.
Once the RNA polymerase reaches the end of the gene, it terminates transcription, and the newly synthesized mRNA molecule is released. This mRNA molecule now carries the genetic code or information necessary to produce the specific protein.
After transcription, the mRNA molecule undergoes further modifications in a process called RNA processing. These modifications involve the removal of non-coding regions called introns and the joining together of coding regions called exons. The processed mRNA molecule is then ready for the next step, which is Translation.
Translation takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell and involves the conversion of the mRNA sequence into a specific amino acid sequence, ultimately resulting in the production of the protein molecule. During translation, the mRNA molecule is read by structures called ribosomes, and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring specific amino acids to the ribosomes.
The sequence of codons (sets of three nucleotides) on the mRNA molecule determines the order in which the amino acids are assembled. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA molecule, it matches each codon with its corresponding tRNA molecule carrying the appropriate amino acid.
The amino acids are then joined together to form a polypeptide chain, which ultimately folds into a functional protein molecule. Once the ribosome reaches a specific codon called the stop codon, translation terminates, and the newly synthesized protein is released.
In summary, the first step in making a protein is transcription, where the gene on the DNA molecule is transcribed into mRNA. The mRNA molecule then undergoes modifications through RNA processing. The processed mRNA is then translated into a specific amino acid sequence, resulting in the production of the protein molecule.