National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health | www.cancer.gov

NCI Home
Cancer Topics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Statistics
Research & Funding
News
About NCI

Understanding Cancer Series: Molecular Diagnostics
< Back to Main
In English     En español
    Posted: 01/28/2005    Reviewed: 09/01/2006
Page Options
Print This Page
Print This Document
View Entire Document
E-Mail This Document
View/Print PDF
View/Print PowerPoint
Quick Links
Director's Corner

Dictionary of Cancer Terms

NCI Drug Dictionary

Funding Opportunities

NCI Publications

Advisory Boards and Groups

Science Serving People

Español
NCI Highlights
Virtual and Standard Colonoscopy Both Accurate

New Study of Targeted Therapies for Breast Cancer

The Nation's Investment in Cancer Research FY 2009

Cancer Trends Progress Report: 2007 Update

Past Highlights
You CAN Quit Smoking Now!
Slide 8  :  Lesson 2: Genes Express mRNA <  >  

When a gene expresses itself, it "switches on" to produce a protein. The gene does so by first directing the synthesis of an intermediary molecule called messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). To transfer a gene's information from DNA to mRNA, base pairing is used. However, there is one change. RNA uses a new rule: A matches only with U, and C only with G. So the base sequence of an mRNA molecule resembles that of the DNA molecule from which it was copied, except the base U appears anywhere the base T would appear in DNA.

Lesson 2: Genes Express mRNA

< Previous  |  Index  |  Next Slide >


A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov