Final answer:
The processes of transcription and translation, relevant to gene expression, are collectively known as protein synthesis, which is the correct answer to the student's question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The processes of transcription and translation are collectively known as protein synthesis. Transcription occurs when DNA is used as a template to synthesize RNA, specifically messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA then serves as a guide for the ribosome during translation to synthesize proteins based on the encoded genetic information. These processes are essential parts of gene expression, which includes the creation of a specific protein with a unique sequence of amino acids as encoded in the gene. This is in accordance with the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (c) Protein synthesis.