why is a template of DNA made before translation takes place?

Question

How is this extra step important in the cell

Answer 1

You mean why is DNA transcribed to RNA.
Lot's of reasons.
Regulation of gene expression can be done at many more levels than if you had only the DNA to protein step.
RNA can be stabilized and localized at specific sites in some cells until translation is triggered by a signal. This way you have localized formation of protein without having to carry the whole chromosome around.
Also it is a fast way to get lots of protein because it is an amplification step. Let's assume that one molecule can give rise only to 10 molecules of another species per second.
If DNA gave directly protein, you would have maximum 10 protein molecules being produced per second.
With the current scheme, 1 molecule DNA can give up to 10 RNA molecules and thus 100 protein molecules.

In eukaryotes genes are fragmentented on DNA and RNA. Before translation a process called splicing occurs which removes parts of the RNA sequence that don't belong to the gene and fuse the coding ones so that you get a RNA molecule with the complete sequence. In many cases there are different combinations of coding regions which are fused and thus the cell can generate different proteins by regulating the splicing of a single RNA molecule.


The list goes on....

Answer 2

It is quite important, as it helps protect the original DNA. Just as an architect does not give out the original plans to the house, but copies out blue prints for them to use. What would happen to us if DNA did not have a template, and then it got damaged. That would cause a lot of problems within the cell chemistry though out the body.

Answer 3

belle got it right but missed an important one. if it was copied straight from the dna the message would all me the opposite of the coded one. my switching to the template, the translated message is the exact message in the dna.

Answer 4

Template is necessary for producing replicas of mother DNA
This will provide parent as well as child one DNA
If there is no templates then only child receives one DNA & parent will remain without it which will cause death.

Answer 5

If I was going to take something apart, I would most certainly make a map of how it was in the first place...just in case I had to put things back. Also, how would I know what I changed if I didnt know where everything was in the first place?