Which process occurs during transcription?

Transcription is the process by which the genetic information encoded in DNA is transferred to a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. It involves the synthesis of RNA based on a DNA template. During transcription, an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to a specific region of the DNA and unwinds the double helix. It then synthesizes a single strand of mRNA by adding complementary RNA nucleotides to the growing mRNA strand, corresponding to the sequence of bases on the DNA template strand. This newly synthesized mRNA carries the genetic information needed for protein synthesis but does not involve the actual production of proteins, which occurs later during translation.

Other processes listed, such as protein synthesis, cell division, and DNA replication, are distinct and separate from transcription. Protein synthesis happens after transcription during the translation phase, where the mRNA is used to create proteins. Cell division refers to the process by which a cell divides into two progeny cells, and DNA replication is the process of duplicating the DNA before cell division, ensuring that each new cell receives an identical set of DNA. Understanding these distinctions reinforces the focus on transcription as the specific process of copying DNA to RNA.