Along with a small vial containing a sample of E. coli cells, we were given another vial containing a little piece of DNA called a plasmid. 

What is a plasmid? A plasmid is basically a tiny ring of DNA that can hang out in the environment without being inside of a cell. Plasmids are how bacterial cells protect themselves from viruses and antibiotics, but I’ll explain that a little later.

Anyway, what the hell is DNA?

While DNA is a popular buzzword, few people actually  know what DNA is or does. Just like in the movie, Idiocracy, everyone knew the buzzword “electrolytes”, but nobody actually understood what electrolytes were (for those curious, electrolytes are basically any atom or molecule that can conduct electricity). 

Simply put, DNA is a large molecule called “Deoxyribonucleic Acid”. There are four different types of smaller molecules that make it up: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C). These letters form long chains with each other to make the helical structure of DNA. Aside from DNA, there is RNA which stands for “Ribonucleic Acid”, which usually hangs out as a singe strand. RNA and DNA are both made of A’s, G’s, and C’s. However, instead of using Thymine like DNA does, RNA uses Uracil (U).

Why is it important to know this? Because, DNA and RNA work together to make products, which are proteins. RNA essentially copies down the instructions provided by DNA, turning G’s into C’s, T’s into A’s, and A’s into U’s. Proteins are the structures our cells create, which our bodies rely upon to stay alive and healthy. 

Our skin is made of various proteins, as are our muscles and our hair. Our eyes are made of proteins, as are our stomachs and our hearts. The list goes on. Health problems arise when the correct proteins aren’t being made. 

How do DNA and RNA work together to make a protein?

DNA is like the “boss”. DNA contains all of the instructions (genes) to form a living body. RNA is like the “secretary”, which writes down everything the boss (DNA) wants to make. RNA then leaves the boss’s office (AKA the nucleus of the cell), and goes to the factory which  are little things in our cells called ribosomes. The RNA tells the ribosomes (AKA factories) to make the products (proteins) the DNA wants to be made. 

This is called the Fundamental Theory of Molecular Biology:

DNA→(transcription)→RNA→(translation)→Protein

Everything that goes on- both right and wrong- in biology, relies upon the shoulders of DNA, RNA, and proteins.