What is transcription in genetic terms?

Transcription in genetic terms refers specifically to the process in which messenger RNA (mRNA) is synthesized from a DNA template. During transcription, the segments of DNA that carry the information for making specific proteins are used as templates to produce a complementary RNA strand. This process occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and is a crucial first step in gene expression.

The formation of mRNA from DNA is vital because it allows the genetic information coded within DNA to be translated into proteins, which perform essential functions in the cell. The mRNA then exits the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for translation, the next step in protein synthesis. Understanding transcription is fundamental to genetics and molecular biology, as it forms the basis for how genes are expressed and regulated within an organism.