Transcription Converts A Gene Into A Single-Stranded RNA Molecule

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8.

4 Transcription

KEY CONCEPT
Transcription converts a gene into a single-stranded
RNA molecule.
8.4 Transcription
RNA carries DNA’s instructions.
• The central dogma
states that
information flows in
one direction from
DNA to RNA to
proteins.
8.4 Transcription

• The central dogma includes three processes.


– Replication
– Transcription replication

– Translation
• RNA is a link between transcription

DNA and proteins.

translation
8.4 Transcription

• RNA differs from DNA in three major ways.


– RNA has a ribose sugar.
– RNA has uracil instead of thymine.
– RNA is a single-stranded structure.
8.4 Transcription

Transcription makes three types of RNA.


• Transcription copies DNA to make a strand of RNA.
8.4 Transcription

• Transcription is catalyzed by RNA polymerase.


– RNA polymerase and other proteins form a
transcription complex.
– The transcription complex recognizes the start of
a gene and unwinds a segment of it.

transcription complex
start site

nucleotides
8.4 Transcription

– Nucleotides pair with one strand of the DNA.


– RNA polymerase bonds the nucleotides together.
– The DNA helix winds again as the gene is transcribed.

DNA

RNA polymerase
moves along the DNA
8.4 Transcription

– The RNA strand detaches from the DNA once the gene
is transcribed.

RNA
8.4 Transcription

• Transcription makes three types of RNA.


– Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the message that will
be translated to form a protein.
– Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms part of ribosomes where
proteins are made.
– Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids from the
cytoplasm to a ribosome.
8.4 Transcription

The transcription process is similar to replication.


• Transcription and replication both involve complex
enzymes and complementary base pairing.
• The two processes have different end results.
– Replication copies
all the DNA;
transcription copies one
gene growing RNA strands
a gene.
– Replication makes
one copy; DNA
transcription can
make many copies.

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