Table of Contents
DNA replication is defined as the process involved in obtaining two daughter strands where each strand contains half of the DNA double helix. This happens in the S phase of the cell cycle. The enzymes that take part in this process are DNA Polymerase and DNA Helicase.
Transcription, on the other hand, is the process of transferring genetic information from DNA to RNA. This process is carried out in the G1 and G2 phases of the cell. It is catalysed by RNA polymerase.
To understand how they differ from each other, check out the differences given below.
Also Read: DNA Replication Experiment
Replication vs Transcription
Following are the important difference between replication and transcription:
| Replication | Transcription |
| Occurrence | |
| S phase of the cell cycle |
G1 and G2 phase of the cell cycle
|
| Primer | |
| Requires RNA primer for replication to start |
Does not require a primer
|
| Enzymes | |
| DNA Polymerase, DNA Helicase |
RNA polymerase, Transcriptase
|
| Genome copy | |
| Entire genome is copied |
Only certain genes are copied
|
| Position | |
| Found along the DNA strand |
Found only along 1 strand of DNA
|
| Raw material | |
| dATP, dTTP, dCTP and dGTP |
ATP, GTP, CTP, and UTP
|
| Intend | |
| Conserving genome for further generations |
Making copies of RNA of genes individually
|
| Result | |
| Two daughter strands |
mRNA, rRNA, non-coding RNA and tRNA
|
| Degradation | |
| Products do not degrade | Products degrade |
These were some of the important difference between replication and transcription.
What Is Replication?
DNA replication is the process in which a double-stranded DNA molecule splits into two identical daughter strands. That is why during cell division, each daughter cell contains the same genetic information as the parent cell. The main enzyme responsible for DNA replication is DNA polymerase. It adds new nucleotides to each strand.
What Is Transcription?
Transcription is the conversion of DNA molecules into RNA. RNA polymerase uses one of the DNA strands as a template to synthesise a complementary RNA molecule. The RNA molecule that is synthesised is known as the transcript
Also Read: DNA Structure
Conclusion
Both DNA Replication and Transcription involve the generation of a new copy of the DNA in a cell. DNA transcription is involved in replicating the DNA into RNA, while DNA replication makes another copy of DNA. Both processes are involved in the production of new nucleic acids- DNA or RNA. The newly produced nucleic acids have some similarities but vary in their functions. i.e. one is involved in cell division and the other is involved in gene expression.
To know more about the difference between Replication and Transcription, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.
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