DNA is the basic code of life, determining what proteins are produced and what their sizes and shapes are. Proteins are produced through a complex chemical process that can be summarized as follows: the DNA is read and transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), the mRNA enters the ribosomes and binds to complementary transfer RNA (tRNA) sequences with attached amino acids (each tRNA molecule binds to three complementary bases or one codon). These amino acids are then chemically joined (via dehydration or condensation synthesis) and the tRNA leaves. All of these steps are catalyzed themselves by already existing proteins functioning as enzymes. Of course, we omit some steps (i.e. mRNA splicing).

This utility lets you enter sequences for any of the genetic materials (DNA, mRNA, tRNA) and view what the sequences of other components of this process (including the final protein product) would be.

Instructions:

• Enter the sequence to be converted in the Sequence box.
• Enter 'A' for adenine, 'T' for thymine, 'G' for guanine, 'C' for cytosine, and 'U' for uracil.
• As a rule, sequences are always entered in the 5' to 3' direction.
• If you desire a protein sequence, separate the codons (groups of three nucleotides) from each other with a space.
• Use one of the "radio buttons" below the sequence box to choose the type of nucleic acid entered in the sequence box.
• If you enter a DNA sequence you must select whether it is the coding sequence or the template sequence.
• Select the type of nucleic acid for the resulting sequence.
• To view a table of amino acid abbreviations and associated codons, click here .
• Because different codons often represent a single amino acid, it is impossible to definitively reverse-engineer a nucleotide sequence from an amino acid sequence.