What is the difference between transcription and translation?

This is a rather fundamental question and it's important to get it right. Remember, the central dogma of biology is, in its most basic form, DNA makes RNA makes protein. Transcription is the process by which DNA makes RNA. Translation is the process of making protein from RNA. There are many differences (and some similarities) between the two and it's also important to consider the differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes.In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus where the enzyme RNA polymerase makes pre-mRNA from a DNA template. The pre-mRNA is spliced in the nucleus before export to the cytoplasm. In prokaryotes, transcription occurs in the cytoplasm and makes mRNA (not pre-mRNA as no post-transcriptional modifications are made to the transcript in bacteria).When the mRNA arrives in the cytoplasm, it can be translated by ribosomes. The ribosomes use complementary tRNAs for the mRNA template to bring the correct amino acids in the correct sequence in order to make a protein. In prokaryotes, transcription and translation are coupled, meaning that one process is immediately followed by the next and there are no steps in between. This cannot occur in eukaryotes as the pre-mRNA needs to be spliced before translation can happen.