THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FILM
RNA SPLICING
RNA splicing is a process that our cells use to make genetic information more useful. Think of it as editing a rough draft of a story to make it clear and concise.
How Does It Work?
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Cutting Out Unnecessary Parts: Our cells remove non-essential pieces of RNA, called "introns."
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Connecting the Important Bits: The remaining useful pieces, called "exons," are joined together to create a complete and functional message.
Why is it Important? This edited RNA helps our cells produce proteins, which are crucial for our body's structure and function. RNA splicing ensures that the right instructions are used to keep us healthy.
mRNA
mRNA stands for messenger RNA. It’s a type of molecule that carries important instructions from our DNA to the parts of the cell that make proteins.
How Does It Work?
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Copying the Instructions: mRNA is created by copying a small section of DNA that contains the instructions for making a specific protein.
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Delivering the Message: This mRNA travels to a part of the cell called the ribosome, where proteins are made.
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Building Proteins: The ribosome reads the instructions from the mRNA and assembles the protein, which helps our body grow, repair, and function properly.
Why is it Important? mRNA is essential because it’s like a delivery service, ensuring the right instructions reach the right place to produce the proteins that keep us alive and healthy.
RNAi
RNAi stands for RNA interference. It’s a natural process that cells use to control which genes are active and how much protein they make.
How Does It Work?
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Spotting the Target: RNAi finds specific messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that carry instructions for making proteins.
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Interfering with the Message: RNAi molecules bind to these mRNA molecules and cut them up, stopping the message from being read.
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Controlling Protein Production: By breaking down the mRNA, RNAi ensures that certain proteins are made in the right amounts or not at all.
Why is it Important? RNAi is like a security system for the cell, helping to regulate genes and protect against viruses. It keeps our cells functioning properly and can be used in medicine to treat diseases.