A LITTLE LIGHTBULB MOMENT
Genetics and molecular biology
Central dogma
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DNA whispers, RNA shouts, proteins do the work.
The idea behind the cue
The central dogma describes information flow from DNA to RNA to protein. DNA is transcribed into RNA, and RNA is translated into protein. Reverse transcription is a special exception in some viruses.
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Short & simple
DNA whispers, RNA shouts, proteins do the work.
Acronym
DRPV — Dramatic Raccoons Polish Vacuums.
Story
A librarian copies a secret recipe from a vault onto a note, then hands it to a chef who cooks the dish. The vault stays put; the note gets used to build the protein meal.
Connect the pieces
- D (Dramatic) → DNA: Stores the original information in the central dogma.
- R (Raccoons) → RNA: Carries the transcribed message from DNA.
- P (Polish) → Protein: Is the translated product made from the RNA message.
- V (Vacuums) → Virus: Some viruses are the special exception because they can reverse-transcribe RNA back into DNA.
- Dramatic · DNA: Stores the original information in the central dogma.
- Raccoons · RNA: Carries the transcribed message from DNA.
- Polish · Protein: Is the translated product made from the RNA message.
- Vacuums · Virus: Some viruses are the special exception because they can reverse-transcribe RNA back into DNA.
Know the limits
Does not describe protein-to-DNA information flow; reverse transcription is a special viral exception.
Further reading · OpenStax science textbooks ↗Check your understanding
Which sequence best matches the central dogma?
A. protein -> RNA -> DNA
B. DNA -> RNA -> protein
C. RNA -> DNA -> protein
D. DNA -> protein -> RNA
Reveal explanation
DNA -> RNA -> protein
The standard flow of genetic information is DNA to RNA to protein.