6.3 Transcription and RNA Processing

• Genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein
• RNA molecules are used to facilitate protein synthesis using DNA information
• Ribosomes contain RNA and assemble proteins
• Transcription is the process in which RNA polymerase directs the formation of an mRNA molecule
• DNA strands become separated during transcription
• One DNA strand serves as a template (non-coding strand, minus strand, or antisense strand) while the other is the non-template (coding) strand
• RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction by reading the DNA in the 3' to 5' direction
• Three types of RNA molecules:

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA): carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA): carries specific amino acids and has an anticodon for base pairing with mRNA codons
  • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): functional unit of ribosomes responsible for protein assembly