What are transcription and translation, and how do they relate to protein synthesis?

Transcription and translation are processes involved in protein synthesis.

Transcription is the process by which DNA is copied into RNA. This occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of the DNA and separates the two strands. It then reads the template strand and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand. This RNA molecule is called messenger RNA (mRNA) and it carries the genetic information from the DNA to the ribosome.

Translation is the process by which the genetic information carried by mRNA is used to synthesize a protein. This occurs in the ribosome, which is made up of rRNA and proteins. The mRNA is read by the ribosome in groups of three nucleotides called codons. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the appropriate amino acid to the ribosome, where they are joined together to form a polypeptide chain. The process continues until a stop codon is reached, at which point the ribosome releases the completed protein.

In summary, transcription is the process by which DNA is copied into RNA, and translation is the process by which the genetic information carried by mRNA is used to synthesize a protein. Together, these processes are involved in protein synthesis, which is the process by which proteins are made in cells. Understanding these processes is important for understanding how genetic information is used to create the proteins that are essential for life.