The central

dogma is the
dominant paradigm
of molecular
biology.
Structural genes
exist as sequences
of nucleic acid but
function by
being expressed in
the form of
polypeptides.

Replication makes
possible the
inheritance of
genetic information,
whereas
transcription and
translation are
responsible for its
expression to
another form.
Proteins Are trans Acting but Sites on
DNA Are cis-Acting

All gene products (RNA or polypeptides)

are trans-acting.
They can act on any copy of a gene in the
cell.
cis-acting mutations identify sequences
of DNA that are targets for recognition by
trans-acting products.
They are not expressed as RNA or
polypeptide and affect only the contiguous
stretch of DNA.