Biology STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

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What occurs during transcription?

  1. DNA is converted to DNA

  2. RNA is synthesized from DNA

  3. Amino acids are sequenced

  4. Proteins are assembled

The correct answer is: RNA is synthesized from DNA

Transcription is the process by which RNA is synthesized from a DNA template. During transcription, the double-stranded DNA unwinds, and one of the strands serves as a template for creating a complementary RNA strand. RNA polymerase, the enzyme responsible for this process, binds to the DNA at the promoter region, separates the DNA strands, and synthesizes a single strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) by incorporating ribonucleotides that pair with the complementary DNA bases. This mRNA then carries the genetic information required for protein synthesis from the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. By synthesizing RNA from DNA, transcription sets the stage for the next step in gene expression, which is translation, where the mRNA is used to build proteins. This understanding clarifies the distinction between transcription and other cellular processes: DNA replication involves converting DNA to more DNA, while protein assembly and amino acid sequencing occur during translation.

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