Proteins are synthesized according to instructions carried in the genetic material, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Protein synthesis can be divided into three phases: transcription, translation, and post-translation modification. The first two phases rely on the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid), and on associated enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in living matter. The final phase involves other enzymes, but no nucleic acids. The finer details of protein synthesis differ between cells that have no nucleus (prokaryotes) and cells that do have a nucleus (eukaryotes). However, the overall process is basically the same.

Proteins are a very common type of molecule in living matter. One thing that all proteins have in common is that they are composed of chains of smaller molecules, called amino acids. A protein's ability to function properly is very closely related to having the correct sequence of amino acids...