Grade 12 · Biology
Transcription
Why it matters
DNA to mRNA.
Advanced20m readingPrerequisite: DNA replication
What is transcription in protein synthesis?
Short answer
Transcription is the first stage of protein synthesis, in which the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). The enzyme RNA polymerase reads one DNA strand and builds a complementary mRNA strand, using uracil in place of thymine. The mRNA then carries the genetic message from the nucleus to the ribosome for translation.
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Frequently asked questions
- What enzyme carries out transcription?
- RNA polymerase, which reads the DNA template strand and assembles a complementary mRNA molecule.
- How does transcription differ from replication?
- Replication copies all of the DNA into DNA; transcription copies one gene into RNA, using uracil instead of thymine.