Transcription

it is the synthesis of RNA, using DNA as a template
- RNA is single-stranded so transcription only occurs along one of the two DNA strands
starts at the promoter region of the gene, it's just before the gene
RNA polymerase binds to DNA and unwinds it
one strand of DNA serves as a template for RNA synthesis
RNA polymerase moves along the gene, separating RNA into single strands and pairing up RNA nucleotides with complementary bases on one strand of the DNA
- there's no Thymine in RNA so Uracil pairs with Adenine
RNA polymerase forms covalent bonds between the RNA nucleotides
the new mRNA is released and the double helix reforms
- transcription stops at the end of the gene and the completed RNA molecule is released

the DNA with the same base sequence as the RNA is called the sense strand
the other strand that acts as the template is called the antisense strand
- it has the complementary base sequence to both the RNA and the sense strand