From base order to protein shape

From base order to protein shapeSpec 3.7B

A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a specific protein. Proteins are made of chains of amino acids. The order of bases in a section of DNA decides the order of amino acids in the protein.

1. The sequence of bases in the gene decides the order of amino acids.
2. The chain of amino acids folds up.
3. The way the chain folds depends on the order of the amino acids, so it produces a specifically shaped protein.

The shape of a protein matters because it decides what the protein can do. For example, an enzyme has an active site with a shape that fits its substrate. A different order of bases would give a different order of amino acids, a differently folded protein and so a different shape.