The process of creating two daughter strands, each containing half of the DNA double helix, is known as DNA replication. This occurs during the cell cycle’s S phase. DNA Polymerase and DNA Helicase are the enzymes involved in this process.
Conversely, the process of translating genetic information from DNA to RNA is called transcription. The G1 and G2 stages of the cell are when this activity takes place. RNA polymerase catalyzes it.
See the differences listed below to learn how they differ from one another.
Transcription vs. Replication
The key distinctions between transcription and replication are as follows:
| 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 a few of the key distinctions between transcription and replication.
Replication: What Is It?
The process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule divides into two identical daughter strands is known as DNA replication. For this reason, when cells divide, the genetic material of each daughter cell remains the same as that of the parent cell. DNA polymerase is the primary enzyme in charge of DNA replication. It replenishes each strand with fresh nucleotides.
Define Transcription
DNA molecules are changed into RNA through transcription. RNA polymerase synthesizes a complementary RNA molecule by using one of the DNA strands as a template. The transcript is the name of the synthesised RNA molecule.
In summary
In a cell, DNA replication and transcription both include creating new copies of the DNA. While DNA replication creates a second copy of the DNA, DNA transcription is involved in translating the DNA into RNA. The synthesis of fresh nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA, involves both procedures. While the newly generated nucleic acids perform different activities, they share certain similarities. For example, one is engaged in the division of cells, and the other in the expression of genes.
