transcription

• During transcription, a molecule of mRNA is made in the nucleus
• The hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases break and the DNA uncoils thus separating the two strands
• One of the DNA strands is used as a template by RNA polymerase to make the

  mRNA molecule. the DNA template is called the antisense strand.
• Free nucleotides line up by complementary base pairing and adjacent nucleotides

  are joined by phosphodiester bonds made by RNA polymerase thus forming a single

  stranded molecule of mRNA
• mRNA then moves out of the nucleus through a pore and attaches to a ribosome in

  the cytoplasm which is the site of next stage of protein synthesis called translation