What is transcription?

• A. A Gene Serves as a Template for the Production of an RNA Molecule
• B. Translation of RNA into Protein
• C. Replication of DNA
• D. Synthesis of DNA from RNA

Answer: (A)

Transcription is the process by which a gene’s information is copied into an RNA molecule. During transcription, RNA polymerase binds to the DNA at a promoter, reads the DNA template strand, and builds a complementary RNA strand. The bases pair as A pairs with U in RNA (instead of T), and C with G, resulting in an RNA transcript that can be used to make proteins or perform other roles in the cell. This is distinct from translation, which converts RNA into protein, from DNA replication, which copies DNA, and from synthesis of DNA from RNA, which is reverse transcription (not a normal transcription event).