Final answer:
In the transcription of DNA to mRNA, RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA and synthesizes mRNA using the DNA template, with uracil substituted for thymine. The process concludes when a termination sequence is reached, and the mRNA is released for further processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transcription from DNA to mRNA
The process of transcribing information in DNA to mRNA involves several key steps. Initially, RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA at the gene that needs to be transcribed. This region of unwound DNA is known as the transcription bubble. RNA polymerase then synthesizes mRNA by adding nucleotides complementary to the DNA template strand, except that uracil (U) is inserted opposite to adenine (A) instead of thymine (T). This synthesis occurs in the 5' to 3' direction along the DNA template. The process continues until RNA polymerase encounters a termination sequence. Upon reaching this stop signal, the transcription process concludes, releasing the newly formed mRNA, which further processes in the nucleus before heading to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis during translation.
Note that DNA polymerase is not involved in transcription; it plays a role in DNA replication. Also, transfer RNA (tRNA) is not part of the transcription process; its function lies in translation, where it aids in protein synthesis.