What is the process called that converts DNA into RNA?

The process that converts DNA into RNA is known as transcription. During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into a complementary RNA strand. This is an essential step in gene expression, where the information encoded in the DNA is first transcribed to messenger RNA (mRNA). Once the mRNA is synthesized, it can then be translated into a protein during the subsequent process known as translation.

Transcription occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, where RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of a gene, unwinds the DNA, and synthesizes the RNA molecule by adding complementary RNA nucleotides to the growing chain. This generated RNA strand is a direct copy of the gene’s coding sequence, with thymine in DNA being replaced by uracil in RNA.

Understanding transcription is fundamental in biotechnology and molecular biology because it sets the stage for how genes are expressed and how proteins are synthesized, impacting various fields such as genetic engineering, therapeutics, and diagnostics.