Chapter 17 From Gene to Protein Overview: The Flow of Genetic Information The information content of DNA is in the form of specific sequences of nucleotides The DNA inherited by an organism leads to specific traits by dictating the synthesis of proteins Proteins are the links between genotype and phenotype Gene expression, the process by which DNA directs protein synthesis, includes two stages: transcription and translation Copyright ? 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings Fig. 17-1 Concept 17.1: Genes specify proteins via transcription and translation How was the fundamental relationship between genes and proteins discovered? Copyright ? 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings