Transcription Basics
What molecule stores the genetic instructions used to make RNA?
DNA
What is the first stage of transcription?
Initiation
Do prokaryotes have a nucleus?
No
Where does transcription happen in eukaryotes?
In the nucleus
What are the three main stages of transcription?
Initiation, elongation, and termination.
What enzyme makes RNA during transcription?
RNA polymerase
What happens during elongation?
RNA nucleotides are added to the growing RNA strand.
Where does transcription occur in prokaryotes?
What is the first RNA product made from a protein-coding gene called?
Pre-mRNA
What does RNA polymerase read to make RNA?
The DNA template strand
What does transcription produce?
An RNA strand.
What is the final main stage of transcription?
Termination
What protein helps RNA polymerase recognize the promoter in prokaryotes?
Sigma factor.
What are the noncoding sections removed from pre-mRNA called?
Introns
What happens to mature mRNA after it leaves the nucleus?
It travels to the cytoplasm for translation.
What is the DNA region where transcription begins called?
The promoter.
During which stage does RNA polymerase attach to DNA?
Initiation
Can transcription and translation happen at the same time in prokaryotes?
Yes
What process removes introns and joins exons?
RNA splicing.
Name one difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription.
Prokaryotes transcribe in the cytoplasm; eukaryotes transcribe in the nucleus.
What is the difference between transcription and translation?
Transcription makes RNA; translation uses mRNA to make protein.
What happens when termination occurs?
The RNA transcript is released.
What is one reason transcription and translation can happen at the same time in prokaryotes?
They do not have a nucleus separating DNA transcription from ribosomes.
Name two changes made during eukaryotic RNA processing.
A 5′ cap and a poly-A tail are added; splicing also occurs.
Why is transcription important to cells?
It allows genetic information in DNA to be copied into RNA.