What is Transcription?
Answer – Transcription is the process of synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA) from a DNA template.
Explanation:
Transcription occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. It is the first step in synthesizing proteins from specific gene sequences. Transcription is performed by enzymes called RNA polymerases, which link nucleotide bases (A, T, G, U, or C) to form an mRNA strand using a DNA strand as a template.
Transcription has three stages:
- Initiation: In this stage, RNA polymerase binds to the DNA promoter region (a specific DNA sequence).
- Elongation: RNA polymerase synthesizes an mRNA strand using the DNA template.
- Termination: Transcription ends with this stage, and mRNA is released from the DNA template.
Image credit: Genomics Education Programme / Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY 2.0 DEED)
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