× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
5
o
5
4
m
4
b
4
x
4
a
4
l
4
t
4
S
4
m
3
s
3
New Topic  
colleen colleen
wrote...
Valued Member
Posts: 17077
11 years ago
Describe the basic similarities and differences between DNA replication and transcription.
Read 14998 times
1 Reply
Sunshine ☀ ☼

Related Topics

Replies
wrote...
Valued Member
Educator
11 years ago
DNA replication and transcription are similar processes in that they both involve the production of molecules of nucleic acids using a preexisting template. Therefore, they both involve the polymerization of nucleotides to create long chains, as well as the utilization of complementary base-pairing rules to create the nucleotide sequence of the new molecule based on the sequence of the template. Additionally, these chains of nucleotides are synthesized in the same direction, 5' to 3', regardless of the type of nucleic acid being produced.

However, there are a number of differences between these two processes as well. The product of DNA replication is an exact, complete DNA copy of an entire DNA molecule that will be passed on to the offspring of the cell producing it. The product of transcription is an RNA copy of a limited region (a gene) of a DNA molecule. Furthermore, this RNA molecule may not be an exact copy of the gene, because transcription is more prone to errors than DNA replication. The RNA molecules produced during transcription are used within the cell that produces them to provide information for the synthesis of proteins during translation.
muratuba,  sciencerunner
New Topic      
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  1125 People Browsing
Related Images
  
 239
  
 10
  
 235
Your Opinion
What's your favorite funny biology word?
Votes: 156

Previous poll results: What's your favorite coffee beverage?