How does a cell use DNA information to make a protein?

Think of it as two distinct steps, with the information changing form along the way:

1. Transcription: information in a gene in DNA is used to produce messenger RNA (mRNA).
2. Translation: a ribosome reads the mRNA template and builds a protein.

The short version is DNA → mRNA → protein. The DNA-to-RNA step is transcription; the RNA-to-protein step is translation. [S1]

A useful distinction: the ribosome reads the mRNA during translation. DNA provides information in this pathway, but it is not the template the ribosome reads in that step.

Here is a text diagram you can copy into notes:

DNA sequence in a protein-encoding gene ↓ Transcription — information in the gene is used to produce mRNA mRNA sequence ↓ Translation at a ribosome — the ribosome reads the mRNA template mRNA codons — groups of three nucleotides; the genetic code relates each to an amino acid or a stop signal ↓ Amino-acid sequence → protein

The codon order guides the amino-acid order. The genetic code is the relationship between mRNA codons and amino acids or stop signals. [S1] In your diagram, label the arrows with the process, not just the molecule names: transcription produces mRNA, while translation uses mRNA to build a protein.

Use a clearly labeled toy example with placeholders, not a biological sequence. For example:

Illustrative placeholders only—not a real gene or real codon lookup

• DNA information in a made-up gene → transcription → mRNA with three placeholder triplets: [triplet 1] [triplet 2] [triplet 3]
• Translation: imagine a practice chart that maps [triplet 1] to [amino acid A], [triplet 2] to [amino acid B], and [triplet 3] to [stop signal].
• Resulting illustrative amino-acid sequence: [amino acid A] – [amino acid B].

This walks through the process: transcribe, group the mRNA into triplets, use a code chart to interpret them, and write the amino-acid order. The bracketed mappings are invented for the demonstration; use a real genetic-code chart for any actual codons. The supported high-level point is that codons relate to amino acids or a stop signal. [S1]

No. Don’t describe this pathway as though every gene encodes a protein; the overview notes that not every gene does. [S1] For an introductory diagram, say that a protein-encoding gene can provide information for the DNA-to-mRNA-to-protein pathway.

Also keep the scope modest: this diagram shows the high-level pathway and the role of the genetic code. It does not explain every organism-specific detail or every step that may occur in cells. If an assignment asks for those details, use the relevant course material rather than presenting this simplified flow as a complete account.