Transcription — Science definition
The process of copying a gene's DNA into a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA).
Where it is taught
- Protein Synthesis — DNA, Inheritance & Gene Expression, Life Science: Biology, Grade 10
In use
The first step, transcription, happens inside the nucleus.
Protein Synthesis
Questions using transcription
Problem 1
During transcription, a gene's DNA is copied into
- a lipid
- messenger RNA (mRNA)
- a finished protein
- a new chromosome
Answer and explanation
messenger RNA (mRNA)
Transcription produces an mRNA copy of the gene; the protein is built later, during translation.
Problem 2
Explain the difference between transcription and translation.
Answer and explanation
Transcription is copying a gene's DNA into mRNA inside the nucleus; translation is reading that mRNA's codons at a ribosome to build a protein from amino acids. Transcription makes the message, and translation reads it.
Problem 3
Transcription produces
- a protein
- a messenger RNA copy of a gene
- a new DNA double helix
- a ribosome
Answer and explanation
a messenger RNA copy of a gene
Transcription copies a gene's sequence into messenger RNA; translation then uses that RNA to assemble a protein.