What process does transcription refer to?

Transcription refers to the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template. This process occurs when the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a specific region of the DNA and unwinds the double helix, allowing it to read the genetic information encoded in the DNA. As RNA polymerase progresses along the DNA strand, it assembles a complementary strand of RNA. This RNA strand includes the same nucleotide sequence as the coding strand of the DNA (with the exception that uracil replaces thymine).

Transcription is a crucial step in gene expression, as it produces messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic instructions from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where proteins are made. Therefore, understanding transcription is essential to grasp how genes are expressed and how their information is utilized within the cell.