Which statement best defines transcription?

• A. Copying a gene's DNA sequence into messenger RNA
• B. Translation of RNA into a protein
• C. Replication of DNA before cell division
• D. Splicing introns from RNA

Answer: (A)

Transcription is the process of copying a gene’s DNA sequence into messenger RNA. During transcription, RNA polymerase reads the DNA template and builds a complementary RNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, using ribonucleotides (uracil in place of thymine). The resulting mRNA carries the genetic message from the DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis. This step is distinct from translation, which converts RNA into a protein; from replication, which duplicates DNA before cell division; and from splicing, which removes introns from the RNA transcript after transcription but before translation. The statement correctly captures what transcription does.