What is Transcription?

• transcription copies a specific gene that will be made into a protein

• transcription is making a copy of DNA into a copy of mRNA

• transcription takes place in the nucleus

Transcription requires enzymes

• RNA polymerase

• RNA is only synthesized using the template strand of DNA

• That means, only one side of the opened DNA molecule is used to make mRNA

Only one part of the chromosome is opened at a time during transcription

​

One gene codes for only one protein.

• The chromosome only transcribes one gene at a time

• Cells need thousands of proteins for survival

• Therefore your DNA contains thousands of different genes

Transcription Base Pairing Rules:

A --U

G--C

There is no Thymine in RNA, instead Uracil is used. This allows the cell to protect the RNA from being destroyed before the protein is made.

Transcription takes place in the Nucleus

• after the mRNA is made, it leaves the nucleus

• mRNA enters the cytoplasm and is picked up by the ribosome

• This is where transcription ends

• the next step is TRANSLATION....