DNA Transcription: From Gene to mRNA
DNA Transcription: From Gene to mRNA
Molecular Biology
A comprehensive guide to the process by which a DNA template is read by RNA polymerase to produce a complementary messenger RNA strand — the first step in gene expression.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the central dogma of molecular biology and where transcription fits
- Identify the template strand, coding strand, and the role of each in transcription
- Describe the structure and catalytic mechanism of RNA polymerase
- Distinguish the three stages of transcription: initiation, elongation, and termination
- Explain eukaryotic mRNA processing: 5' capping, splicing, and 3' polyadenylation
- Outline how transcription is regulated by transcription factors and enhancers
- Relate transcription to observable cellular structures visible under electron microscopy