What does the Central Dogma of molecular biology explain?

The Central Dogma of molecular biology is fundamentally about how genetic information is transferred within a biological system. It specifically articulates the pathway from DNA to RNA to protein, delineating the processes of transcription and translation. This framework illustrates that DNA serves as the repository of genetic information, which is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and subsequently translated into proteins. Proteins are critical molecules that perform a vast array of functions within living organisms, including acting as enzymes, structural components, and signaling molecules.

Understanding the Central Dogma is central to genetics and molecular biology because it explains not just the basic process of information flow and gene expression, but also sets the stage for further exploration into how mutations or alterations in the sequence of DNA can impact protein structure and function, leading to various phenotypic outcomes. This principle serves as a cornerstone for many modern biological fields, including biotechnology, genetics, and bioinformatics.