Question

Describe how the DNA code is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA).

Answer 1

The RNA Polymerase binds onto a DNA strand so mRNA is sent into a ribosome and translates it into amino acids.

Explanation:

The cell interprets genetic instructions and the DNA unwinds. Then the protein, RNA polymerase, binds onto the strand. The messenger RNA is sent out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm to a ribosome. The ribosomes then take the mRNA and translate it into amino acids. This is just a simpler explanation, I hope it helps!

Answer 2

Transcription is the process in which the information encoded in DNA is used to synthesize a complementary RNA strand, specifically messenger RNA (mRNA). Here's a step-by-step description of transcription:

1. **Initiation:** Transcription begins with the binding of RNA polymerase, an enzyme, to a specific region of DNA known as the promoter. The promoter signals the starting point for transcription.

2. **Unwinding of DNA:** The DNA double helix is unwound locally near the promoter site, creating a transcription bubble. This exposes the DNA template strand.

3. **RNA Synthesis:** RNA polymerase adds complementary RNA nucleotides to the exposed DNA template strand. Adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U) in RNA, cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), and so on. This results in the synthesis of an RNA molecule that is complementary to the template DNA strand.

4. **Elongation:** RNA polymerase moves along the DNA template, adding nucleotides to the growing mRNA chain. The enzyme catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds between adjacent RNA nucleotides, creating a continuous mRNA strand.

5. **Termination:** Transcription concludes when RNA polymerase reaches a specific termination sequence in the DNA. At this point, the newly synthesized mRNA is released, and RNA polymerase detaches from the DNA template.

The synthesized mRNA molecule carries the genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis during translation. This process is central to the flow of genetic information within a cell.