Term: transcription
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06436

Definition:
The process by which the genetic information encoded in a linear sequence of nucleotides in one strand of DNA is copied into an exactly complementary sequence of RNA.

Related Terms:
1) sequence (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.ST06775).
2) nucleotides (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.N04255).
3) dna (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01597).
4) rna (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05386).

Source: PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 167 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143)

Citation: 'transcription' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06436

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.