SO...
Protein synthesis is about making proteins from your DNA...
It takes place in 2 stages - transcription (where DNA is converted into mRNA) and then translation (where mRNA and tRNA combine to make a polypeptide). A bunch of polypeptides make a protein.
To go into detail;
Transcription: DNA -> mRNA1. DNA unwinds and unzips
2. RNA polymerase links complementary RNA nucleotides to the unwound DNA – forming an mRNA strand
3. mRNA strand is modified so that it contains only exons (regions that code for proteins)
4. mRNA moves from the nucleus of the cell into the cytoplasm[/li][/list]
Translation: mRNA + tRNA -> polypeptide -> protein
5. mRNA binds to a ribosome
6. tRNA carrying anticodons binds to mRNA’s codons
7. A polypeptide chain is formed until a ’stop’ codon is reached
8. Newly formed polypeptide chain is released into the cytoplasm
It always occurs in this order. If you have faulty or mutated DNA, you'll end up with a different polypeptide produced!
Does this all make sense?