What is the process of transcription in biology?

Transcription is a critical biological process in which the information encoded in DNA is utilized to synthesize RNA. This involves the creation of a complementary RNA strand from a specific segment of DNA. During transcription, an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to the DNA at a specific region known as the promoter and unwinds the DNA strands. It then selectively adds RNA nucleotides that are complementary to the DNA template strand, resulting in the formation of messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA can then undergo further processing and eventually be translated into proteins, which are essential for various cellular functions.

This process is fundamental to gene expression, as it serves to convert the genetic code stored in DNA into a format that can be used to produce proteins. The distinction between transcription and other processes such as translation (the conversion of mRNA into proteins), DNA replication (the copying of DNA for cell division), and the degradation of RNA (the breakdown of RNA molecules) delineates transcription as specifically the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.