Summary
The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.
In depth
Francis Crick proposed in 1958 that sequence information passes from nucleic acids to protein but not back from protein. Replication copies DNA to DNA, transcription makes RNA from DNA and translation makes protein from RNA. Exceptions: reverse transcription (RNA to DNA in retroviruses) and RNA replication in RNA viruses.
The dogma explains how a gene's sequence determines a protein's amino acid sequence, and so its function.
The dogma is often misquoted as DNA to RNA to protein as the only route. Crick's statement allows several transfers: DNA to DNA, DNA to RNA, RNA to protein, and also RNA to RNA (RNA viruses) and RNA to DNA (reverse transcription). What it forbids is information flowing from protein back to sequence. Prions do not break this, since they transmit shape, not sequence.
The dogma is a map of information flow, not of regulation: cells control each step, and non-coding RNAs, chromatin and feedback add layers. A bacterial cell can transcribe and translate the same gene at once, while eukaryotes separate the steps by the nuclear envelope.
Example: HIV carries RNA, copies it to DNA by reverse transcriptase, integrates it, and then uses the usual route to make viral proteins.
Frequently asked questions
What is Central Dogma?
The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.
Which area of biology covers Central Dogma, and how advanced is it?
Central Dogma is one of the 52 topics in Molecular Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Messenger RNA, Riboswitches, Transcription.
Can you give an example of Central Dogma?
Mutating a DNA base can change one amino acid and a protein's function, but changing a protein does not alter the gene.
What should I learn before Central Dogma?
Central Dogma is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Molecular Biology that pair well with it include DNA Replication, Base Pairing, Transcription.
What topics are related to Central Dogma?
The closest topics to Central Dogma are Messenger RNA, Riboswitches, Transcription, Translational Control. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Central Dogma?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Central Dogma. To practise the whole of Molecular Biology, use the Molecular Biology quiz.
How is Central Dogma different from Messenger RNA?
Central Dogma: The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. Messenger RNA: A single-stranded RNA copy of a gene that carries instructions to the ribosome. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Central Dogma step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Messenger RNA and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Molecular Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.