Transcription is defined as the synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template. Which option best represents this definition?

Transcription is defined as the synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template. Which option best represents this definition?

• A. Synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template
• B. Synthesis of a protein from RNA
• C. Replication of DNA
• D. Processing of RNA into mRNA

Answer: (A)

Transcription is the process of building an RNA molecule using a DNA template. RNA polymerase reads the DNA sequence and links RNA nucleotides to form a transcript that is complementary to the DNA template strand. This definition matches the idea of creating RNA directly from DNA, rather than making protein, copying DNA, or processing RNA after it’s made. Translation would be making protein from RNA, DNA replication would copy the DNA itself, and RNA processing refers to modifying the RNA after transcription, not the transcription step itself.

Transcription is the process of building an RNA molecule using a DNA template. RNA polymerase reads the DNA sequence and links RNA nucleotides to form a transcript that is complementary to the DNA template strand. This definition matches the idea of creating RNA directly from DNA, rather than making protein, copying DNA, or processing RNA after it’s made. Translation would be making protein from RNA, DNA replication would copy the DNA itself, and RNA processing refers to modifying the RNA after transcription, not the transcription step itself.