Central Dogma: From DNA to Protein
Visualize the flow of genetic information from DNA to mRNA in the nucleus, and then to a polypeptide chain at the ribosome.
About this simulation
- What
- An interactive Biology simulation of Central Dogma: From DNA to Protein.
- Who
- Designed for AP, IB, and A‑Level Biology students.
- How
- Runs in any modern browser — drag, adjust, and explore in real time.
Updated 2026-04-11
Key Concepts
Transcription
The process where DNA's genetic code is copied into a complementary mRNA molecule by RNA polymerase in the nucleus.
Translation
Ribosomes read mRNA codons and match them with tRNA anticodons to assemble a specific sequence of amino acids into a protein.
Genetic Code
The universal set of rules by which three-nucleotide codons specify which amino acid will be added next during protein synthesis.
The Flow of Life
The Central Dogma describes the two-step process, transcription and translation, by which the information in genes flows into proteins: DNA → RNA → Protein.
Transcription happens in the cell's nucleus and involves RNA polymerase unzipping the DNA double helix. Translation happens in the cytoplasm where ribosomes decode the mRNA message.
Experiment with the sequence below to see how specific DNA mutations would lead to changes in the final protein.