To turn a gene's DNA sequence of bases into a protein's sequence of amino acids requires an intermediary molecule called mRNA.
Base pairing is used to create mRNA from one of the DNA strands. Every T in the DNA strand pairs with an A in the mRNA strand, and Cs and Gs in the DNA pair with Gs and Cs in the mRNA. However, if there is an A in the DNA sequence, it pairs with a new base called Uracil (U) in the mRNA strand. Thus, if the DNA sequence is TACGCAATATGCATT, the mRNA sequence becomes AUGCGUUAUACGUAA.
![Genes to Proteins I](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081015104042im_/http://www.nci.nih.gov/images/Documents/f6e06278-e717-4465-b5b4-fda72f95584b/cancer20.jpg)
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