Mercy! Mercy! That Dang Nabed PERCY!

Protein Production

The Wallmart analogy of protein production in a cell

I used the analogy of the development of the computer and said that many of mankind’s invented processes follow a life model. A better analogy is Walmart. Walmart sells many different things and to keep track of everything and make sure stock levels are in a proper equilibrium have a process that is remarkably similar to how the human body functions.

In a cell, (the supermarket) the DNA control center is in the nucleus. The nucleus is where the chromosomes are located. Sequenced on the chromosomes are genes, which are segments of DNA. A gene is expressed like a barcode and is used for making a single protein.

Think of the nucleus as the store office. The store manager gets a “red flag,” on his CRT that a package of wieners has just been sold.

“Hmmmm,” she thinks, “I need another package. “ So she tells the computer to search the inventory for wieners and the brand she wants flashes on the screen in a bar code. She pushes the order form button and a template flashes on the screen. She clicks “copy” and the bar code is transferred onto the order form. Then she hits “send” and a messenger races into her office and takes the order form coming off the printer. This process is called transfer. It finds the product in the inventory (DNA sequence) and gets the (Protein) order written.

“Well…, an action taken is an action completed” the manager thinks smugly.

Meanwhile the messenger takes the order and races out of the office and into the store. He brandishes the order form looking for a Ribosome associate. These Ribosomes walk around with these inventory readers strapped to their hips. They read the message, go into the storage area, find another package of Oscar Meyer Wieners and put it back on the shelf. This part of the process is called translation.

Anyway, there you have the process of protein production washed through Percy Goodfellow’s filter. If you want a more scientific explanation go on line or read a textbook.