Transcription

Definition

Transcription is the process by which the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). It marks the first step in protein synthesis where genetic information is translated into a format used to build proteins.

Related terms

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms.

RNA Polymerase:

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription, functioning like the scribe's pen in copying the text.

Messenger RNA (mRNA): A type of RNA that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where they specify the amino acid sequence of the protein products of gene expression