Belgian biochemist Christian de Duve made important advances in our knowledge of cellular biology. One of his most significant discoveries concerned the function of RNA in cellular protein synthesis.
Similar to how different components of a cell cooperate to produce proteins necessary for life, picture your body as a huge factory where numerous machines work together to produce a wide range of goods. De Duve noted that RNA is far more important than previously believed in this intricate manufacturing process.
In this factory, RNA molecules serve as the assembly workers and blueprints. Messenger RNA transports DNA's genetic instructions to other cell components where proteins are produced. After that, transfer RNA delivers particular amino acids, which function similarly to building blocks, and assembles them into a protein in accordance with the messenger RNA blueprint. De Duve's observation made clear how much RNA is used in these processes, suggesting that the machinery that makes proteins is essentially an RNA-based system.
De Duve's discovery improved scientists' comprehension of how information encoded in genes is converted into useful molecules that support life by highlighting the crucial role of RNA in this process. This viewpoint has had a long-lasting effect on biochemistry and cellular biology, promoting more investigation into the complex molecular mechanisms underlying cell function.