Transcription (biology)

Transcription is the biological process by which prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells generate single stranded RNA through the enzymatic action of a specific isoform of RNA polymerase. It is the intermediary step in the production of proteins, and the final step for non-protein coding RNAs. Protein coding genes are transcribed into mRNA which is then translated by the ribosome to create a nascent polypetide chain.

Non-protein coding RNAs are transcribed from DNA for the production of ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, and small nuclear RNAs which serve various other functions in the cell. The biochemical process is similar to DNA replication in that it requires the action of multiple enzymes to unravel double-stranded genomic DNA which allows an enzyme (DNA polymerase) to processively catalyze the formation of an anti-sense strand based on proper nucleotide base pairing.