How does DNA lead to the production of proteins?

Proteins are encoded by the information stored in the DNA genetic material. This happens in two stages: transcription and translation. During transcription, the DNA unravels and exposes it's sequence, allowing RNA polymerase to align RNA nucleotides with their complimentary base pairs. This creates a strand of m(essenger)RNA which is free to leave the nucleus. These join to a nearby ribosome, which gather t(ransfer)RNA and align their anti-codon to the codon of mRNA. The tRNA carry specific amino acids, and as they align, a polypeptide chain forms. This chain undergoes folding to become a protein.