AC-HPAT Biology Practice Exam

The relationship between DNA and proteins is fundamentally about the role DNA plays in the synthesis of proteins. DNA contains the genetic blueprint that houses the instructions for building proteins. This process involves two key stages: transcription and translation.

In transcription, the information in a section of DNA (a gene) is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA then travels from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it directs the synthesis of proteins during translation. The ribosomes read the sequence of the mRNA and use it to assemble the corresponding amino acids into a polypeptide chain, which then folds into a functional protein.

This highlights that DNA does not directly produce proteins; rather, it encodes the instructions necessary for ribosomes to create proteins based on the sequences of nucleotides. The other options misrepresent the relationship by suggesting direct action or reverse functionality, which does not align with the established understanding of molecular biology.