DNA is like a master blueprint on how to build a house, containing all the instructions on how to build every single part of the house. It is kept in a vault (like the nucleus) and never leaves this vault (nucleus).
In order to use the blueprint, copies have to be made inside the vault and transported out. Only small parts of the blueprint are copied. These copies would be like mRNA. They only copy parts of the blueprint, like how to build a sink or closet or shelf (different proteins).
Once the copy (mRNA) is transported out of the vault (nucleus), the builders (ribosomes) assemble and build the part (protein) from the copy.
The copies (mRNA) can’t alter the DNA because the copying process is one way and the instructions are written slightly differently on the blueprint and copies, like they use different fonts (DNA is made of slightly different materials than mRNA). The copies are also fragile and only last a short time, like they are instructions written on toilet paper instead of the much more durable blueprint in the vault. mRNA also doesn’t persist. The builders (ribosomes) outside the vault (nucleus) can only understand the instructions on the copies. Plus there are no builders in the nucleus.
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