Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is NOT part of the central dogma of molecular biology?

1. Structure of DNA discovered in 1953

2. Formation of proteins from amino acids

3. Production of RNA from DNA

4. Reversible process of transcription

The correct answer is: Reversible process of transcription

The central dogma of molecular biology primarily describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system. This concept emphasizes the processes of DNA replication, transcription, and translation, illustrating how genetic material is used to produce proteins. The reversible process of transcription suggests that RNA can be synthesized from DNA and then converted back into DNA, which is not a standard representation of the central dogma. Transcription is typically viewed as a one-way process where DNA is used as a template to create RNA. This means that after RNA is synthesized, it does not revert back to DNA as part of the usual molecular biology framework. In the context of the other elements, the structure of DNA discovered in 1953 laid the foundation for understanding genetic information storage and replication. The formation of proteins from amino acids is integral to translating the information carried by RNA into functional proteins. The production of RNA from DNA describes the transcription step, which is a vital part of the central dogma. Thus, the incorrect portrayal of transcription as a reversible process distinguishes it from the foundational principles described in the central dogma.