1. What is DNA Translation?

DNA translation is the process by which the genetic information encoded in DNA is converted into a sequence of amino acids that form proteins. This is the second step in the central dogma of molecular biology (DNA → RNA → Protein).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator translates DNA sequences to protein sequences using the standard genetic code:

• Input DNA sequence is divided into 3-nucleotide codons
• Each codon is matched to its corresponding amino acid
• Stop codons (*) indicate the end of translation

3. The Genetic Code

The standard genetic code is nearly universal and defines how nucleotide triplets (codons) specify amino acids. There are 64 possible codons (4³) that encode for 20 standard amino acids and 3 stop signals.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter a valid DNA sequence (only A, T, G, C characters)
• Sequence length should be a multiple of 3 for complete translation
• Case doesn't matter (automatically converted to uppercase)
• Whitespace is automatically removed

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if the DNA sequence isn't a multiple of 3?
A: The calculator will translate complete codons and ignore any remaining 1-2 nucleotides at the end.

Q2: What does the asterisk (*) mean in the output?
A: The asterisk represents a stop codon (TAA, TAG, or TGA) which signals the end of protein synthesis.

Q3: Can I translate RNA sequences with this calculator?
A: You can, but you should first convert U to T in your RNA sequence as this calculator expects DNA input.

Q4: What if my sequence contains invalid characters?
A: The calculator will only process valid DNA characters (A, T, G, C). Any invalid characters will be ignored.

Q5: Is this the same as transcription?
A: No, transcription is DNA → RNA. Translation is RNA → Protein. This calculator skips the RNA step and translates directly from DNA.