Post-transcriptional modification

After our genes create a special instruction book called RNA, there are some changes that happen to it before it can make the proteins that build our bodies. These changes are called post-transcriptional modifications, and they help to make sure that our cell creates the right kind of protein that it needs.

Think about it like a chef making a recipe. The chef needs to read the recipe and make sure they have all the right ingredients before cooking. Our cells are similar, they need to make sure they have the right RNA instructions before building the protein.

One of the ways our cells modify RNA is by cutting some parts of the RNA off and keeping other parts that are important. This is like the chef removing the parts of the recipe that aren't needed and keeping the parts that make the meal taste good.

Another way our cells modify RNA is by adding special chemical marks to it. These marks can be like a special spice that gives the protein an extra taste or function. These chemical marks can also help to determine where the RNA goes in the cell so it creates the right protein in the right place.

After these modifications happen, the RNA is ready to be used to create the proteins that our body needs to function properly. It's like the chef adding all the ingredients together and cooking the meal. Without these crucial post-transcriptional modifications, our cells wouldn't be able to create the right proteins and our bodies wouldn't function properly.