What is transcription?

Transcription is the process of making DNA into mRNA. DNA first has to be transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), this mRNA can then be translated into a protein (amino acids). DNA Polymerase (an enzyme) binds onto the DNA at the start of a gene and unravels the double helix. One of the DNA strands is used as a template strand for RNA nucleotides to line up next to by complementary base pairing, DNA Polymerase then travels along the DNA strand joining the RNA nucleotides together forming the pre-mRNA strand. This process of forming the RNA strand stops once the DNA Polymerase reaches a stop signal on the DNA. This pre-mRNA must then be sliced (introns cut out) to form the mRNA which can then leave the nucleus.