1. What is DNA Transcription and Translation?

Transcription is the process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). Translation is the process by which ribosomes in the cell's cytoplasm decode the mRNA to produce specific amino acid chains, or polypeptides, that later fold into active proteins.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator performs two main processes:

Transcription: Replaces all thymine (T) bases with uracil (U)

Translation: Converts each RNA codon (3 bases) to an amino acid using the standard genetic code

3. The Genetic Code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins (amino acid sequences) by living cells.

Key features:

• Each codon (3 nucleotides) corresponds to one amino acid
• The code is nearly universal across all organisms
• There are 64 possible codons (4^3) but only 20 standard amino acids
• Three codons serve as stop signals (UAA, UAG, UGA)

4. Using the Calculator

Instructions: Enter a valid DNA sequence (only A, T, C, G characters). The calculator will:

1. Convert DNA to RNA (T→U)
2. Translate RNA to protein using the standard genetic code

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What direction is the sequence read?
A: The sequence is read 5' to 3' and translated from the first nucleotide.

Q2: How are start and stop codons handled?
A: The calculator translates from the beginning until it encounters a stop codon (* in the output).

Q3: What if my sequence isn't divisible by 3?
A: Extra nucleotides at the end that don't form a complete codon are ignored.

Q4: Can I use lowercase letters?
A: Yes, the calculator will convert them to uppercase automatically.

Q5: What about introns and exons?
A: This calculator assumes the input is mature mRNA (already spliced). For genomic DNA, you would need to identify and remove introns first.