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00:14

Okay, we're back with Shmoop Biology, and we're talking about transcription and RNA processing with Dr. Ruth.

00:22

So, Dr. Ruth, how does DNA get transcribed into RNA? Walk us through the process.

00:28

I know we've touched on this a little bit before, but...dive in.

00:32

Sure. So, the process of transcription is kind of similar to DNA replication in that you start with a DNA template and you have to make a new molecule.

00:41

And to back up, why do we need transcription in the first place? What is it and what is it useful for?

00:45

So transcription, in general, is the first step toward making proteins, which is ultimately what the cell needs to do in order to function.

00:51

And so, going from DNA to RNA -- messenger RNA -- is the transcription step.

00:56

And then we'll go one step further to the protein.

00:59

And why do we need a messenger? Like, is that just for clarity on the spec so the engineers know how to code the product -- or how does that work?

01:05

I think it helps with, basically, being able to very quickly increase the amount of a gene that's turned on to whatever level you need it.

01:13

So clarity matters a whole lot here.

01:17

So then there's an RNA polymerase that is involved here structurally. What then happens?

01:24

So RNA polymerase is kind of like DNA polymerase. It just makes RNA rather than DNA.

01:28

It starts off with the double-stranded DNA template. It binds there, and then it starts adding nucleotides to make and RNA transcript -- messenger RNA.

01:38

Okay, so the goal is, we're making this transcript... it's gonna be a blueprint to build proteins to power our body and so on.

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