DNA Transcription: DNA to RNA

Life Science - Middle School

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During the process of transcription a DNA gene sequence is copied to a single RNA (ribonucleic acid) strand called a messenger RNA, or mRNA.

Transcription starts when double-stranded DNA unwinds and exposes a sequence of nitrogen bases.

A new strand of complementary bases forms to create RNA.

The structure of RNA is similar to DNA, but it uses the nitrogen base uracil instead of thymine.

The messenger RNA carries the code to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.