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GCSE Biology · key term
The production of a complementary messenger RNA strand using the DNA of a gene as a template.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification 3.8B, 3.9B · Paper 1
Revise: Transcription: Non-coding DNA and mRNA SynthesisThe DNA remains as the cell's stored genetic information, so the relevant sequence is first transferred to a temporary, single-stranded molecule called messenger RNA, or mRNA. This first stage of protein synthesis is transcription.
The process in which RNA polymerase uses DNA to make a complementary mRNA strand.
Remember that RNA contains uracil (U), not thymine (T), so adenine in the DNA pairs with uracil during transcription.
Build explanations as a complete causal chain: non-coding DNA variant → altered RNA polymerase binding → altered transcription → a different quantity of mRNA → a different quantity of protein → possible change in phenotype.
State the direction of the effect. For example, more difficult binding usually means less transcription and less protein production; easier binding may mean more transcription and more protein production.
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Specification B1.2d, B5.1e · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The process in the nucleus in which the information in a gene is copied into messenger RNA.
Revise: Protein synthesisProtein synthesis has two main stages: transcription, which makes this copy, and translation, which uses the copy to assemble a protein.
The copying of a gene’s DNA sequence into messenger RNA (mRNA).