DNA Transcription (Basic)

Transcription is the process by which the information in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA) for protein production.
TRANSCRIPT: What you are about to see is DNA's most extraordinary secret — how a simple code is turned into flesh and blood. It begins with a bundle of factors assembling at the start of a gene. A gene is simply a length of DNA instructions stretching away to the left. The assembled factors trigger the first phase of the process, reading off the information that will be needed to make the protein. Everything is ready to roll: three, two, one, GO! The blue molecule racing along the DNA is reading the gene. It's unzipping the double helix, and copying one of the two strands. The yellow chain snaking out of the top is a copy of the genetic message and it's made of a close chemical cousin of DNA called RNA. The building blocks to make the RNA enter through an intake hole. They are matched to the DNA - letter by letter - to copy the As, Cs, Ts and Gs of the gene. The only difference is that in the RNA copy, the letter T is replaced with a closely related building block known as "U". You are watching this process - called transcription - in real time. It's happening right now in almost every cell in your body.

[DNALearningCenter]

Visit us in Cold Spring Harbor, Brooklyn, or Sleepy Hollow!

[charlottes]

the sound design on these videos is amazing! It makes me feel like i'm sitting inside a cell, surrounded by fluid, lol. I especially love the little "pop" when the DNA polymerase is activated. thanks, very helpful and fascinating video!

[adaptiveagile]

This never ceases to completely blow my mind. The complexity and beauty. Thanks for the vid.

[mattsupertramp]

The fact that this is happening continuously in our bodies through trillions of cells, and that a couple mistakes can cause complete disaster, yet most of us seem to be fine, absolutely blows my mind

[autumnd.]

This is one of the coolest videos. I enjoy watching it over and over. God is good.

[jmmdinamita]

There is no error in the video. RNA have A's, U's, G's, and C's. So DNA strand "TACATT" would be transcribed in RNA as "AUGUAA".

[SS-tyhi]

So amazing to see the Rna polymerase at work. Wow

[otowarekd]

This is amazing. I wish my biology teacher played something like this in high school.

[MsGadgaard]

My professor at my university used this video in his lecture about nucleus of the cell yesterday, because it has both basic elements and important details to it.

BUT, surely you can't describe transcription (by animation or words) without mentioning RNA. The whole point of the transcription is to produce RNA from DNA to use in the protein synthesis.

[zoeskaggs]

WOW, my biology teacher told my class to watch this video, it looks so crazy. Watching the "advanced" version later.

[spitwzard]

anybody else find this extremely funny

[kaleighjohnson]

when you leave your animation in the back of the fridge and it gets fuzzy.

[jamberino]

that is so breathtakingly realistic D:

[nocies]

its simply amazing that this insanely intricate process is a result of random molecules coming together in soup 4.5 billion years ago :3

[bryansears]

I really wish we could figure out why DNA makes things living i feel like that's the hardest question yet to be answered

[MegaAppleMan]

This right here is proof of a designer, there is no way that an accident or chance over millions of years can make this essential building block of life! So complex we can barely understand it and less build something so complex ourselves. God is real!

[Hudstahhxoxo]

I hated mRNA but after watching this i am so happy that i get it. It's amazing that all this is happening while i type wow.

[Dadsturtlegurl]

Thanks this will hopefully help me on my biology test!

[edwingallardo]

What i would fix is explain what the little yellow molecules are that connect together since some people might not understand

[ffaayyzaah]

What an amazing video!
I enjoy watching it