1. Biology – The Continuity of Life Objective 4 Objective 4 –Explain the steps of the process of transcription.

2. Transcription Why? Why? –Make a mRNA copy of DNA’s genetic code When? When? –Interphase G1 or G2 Where? Where? –Nucleus / nucleolus Who? Who? –RNA Polymerase – separates DNA and adds new RNA nucleotides

3. Transcription How? (click title for video) How? (click title for video) 1. Enzyme briefly separates DNA strand 2. Free nucleotides pair up…remember DNA’s A will bond with U in RNA! 3. RNA polymerase links all new nucleotides together 4. DNA recoils and RNA leaves the nucleus

4. Transcription How much DNA is transcribed? How much DNA is transcribed? –Just the length of ONE GENE –A few hundred to a few thousand letters –Always starts at a TATA Box…a series of DNA that reads “TATAAAA…”

5. Example Problems DNA = ATCTAGCA DNA = ATCTAGCA DNA = TAGATCGT DNA = TAGATCGT DNA = AATTGGCC DNA = AATTGGCC RNA = UUAACCGG RNA = UUAACCGG DNA = ATCCGGAA DNA = ATCCGGAA RNA = UAGGCCUU RNA = UAGGCCUU