OK, crack you knuckles and wipe the spittle from your mouth. Please summarize transcription using the following terms which you will underline as an extra added benefit: RNA Polymerase
Nucleus
DNA
mRNA
Uracil
…and Yoda.

This question is asking to describe the process of transcription. Please find the description below.

Note: the terms will be in BOLD

Explanation:

Transcription is the first stage of gene expression which involves the synthesis of mRNA from a DNA template. Transcription, which occurs in the NUCLEUS where the DNA is located, occurs in three stages namely: initiation, elongation and termination.

- In the initiation stage, an enzyme called RNA POLYMERASE binds to a region on the DNA molecule called PROMOTER. This causes the double strand of the DNA to unwind (separate).

- In the elongation stage, RNA polymerase begins to add nucleotides that are COMPLEMENTARY to those on the strand it reads. This follows the complementary base pairing rule i.e. Adenine-Thymine, Guanine-Cytosine. Note that, URACIL base replaces thymine in the RNA molecule.

- In the termination stage, the RNA polymerase detaches from the strand when it encounters a termination signal, thereby, releasing the single stranded mRNA molecule.