If the stretch of DNA is transcribed into an RNA molecule that encodes a protein, the RNA is termed messenger RNA (mRNA) the mRNA, in turn, serves as a template for the protein's synthesis through translation.

The RNA may remain in the nucleus or exit the cytoplasm through the nuclear pore complex.

This may include polyadenylation, capping, and splicing.

If the cell has a nucleus, the RNA may be further processed.Hydrogen bonds of the RNA–DNA helix break, freeing the newly synthesized RNA strand.RNA sugar-phosphate backbone forms with assistance from RNA polymerase to form an RNA strand.RNA polymerase adds RNA nucleotides (which are complementary to the nucleotides of one DNA strand).This is done by breaking the hydrogen bonds between complementary DNA nucleotides. RNA polymerase generates a transcription bubble, which separates the two strands of the DNA helix.RNA polymerase, together with one or more general transcription factors, binds to promoter DNA.Transcription proceeds in the following general steps: During transcription, a DNA sequence is read by an RNA polymerase, which produces a complementary, antiparallel RNA strand called a primary transcript. īoth DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, which use base pairs of nucleotides as a complementary language. noncoding DNA), while at least 80% of mammalian genomic DNA can be actively transcribed (in one or more types of cells), with the majority of this 80% considered to be ncRNA.

Less than 2% of the human genome can be transcribed into mRNA ( Human genome#Coding vs. mRNA comprises only 1–3% of total RNA samples. Other segments of DNA are copied into RNA molecules called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The segments of DNA transcribed into RNA molecules that can encode proteins are said to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. Simplified diagram of mRNA synthesis and processing.

Transcription and translation example