2011 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2011. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

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How is dna involved in protien synthesis?      Jeffrey Ohmen, Ph.D.: In my current position, I am responsible for the design, implementation and execution for all genetic studies at the House Ear Institute. OK. This is the most important function of DNA, to encode all the proteins in our body. DNA is the blue prints for all the proteins in the body. To build a building, you need plans of where each board and piece of steel goes. You also need to make the steel and/or cut the boards. So DNA is these plans. RNA are like the construction foreman who reads the plans and tells the construction workers (proteins) to do. OK analogy? Brownsville Area High School in PA (9th grade student)

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