Transcription

Transcription is a process in which mRNA is created from the DNA template. After that, in a process called polymerization, the enzyme RNA polymerase builds a strand of mRNA from one of these separated strands of DNA. This complimentary strand of bases, called a RNA transcript, will then go through the nuclear envelope, through nuclear pores, into the cytoplasm to initiate protein synthesis with the help of ribosomes and transfer RNA. One thing to take special note of is that RNA had the base Uracil instead of Thymine. In addition, the RNA transcript is modified to become a mature RNA transcript before it can be used by the ribosome.

Here's a little movie showing what happens as the RNA polymerase interacts with the DNA molecule. *Note that the base pairs are actually attached inside the polymerase; the movie shows it outside; sorry but the animation was difficult.* *Also note that the RNA strand should have U instead of T; sorry we made a mistake, but you get the point.*

Transcription