Zoology - Molecular Basis of Inheritance Question with Solution | TestHub

Transcription occurs in only one direction. Thus the strand that has the polarity$3\text{'}\to 5\text{'}\; acts$as the template strand. The other strand which has the polarity$5\text{'}\to 3\text{'}$is referred to as the coding strand.

Transcription whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic has three main events.

$•$Initiation - Binding of RNA polymerase to double-stranded DNA; this step involves a transition to single strandedness in the region of binding; RNA polymerase binds at 5’ end on a sequence of DNA called the promoter. Initiation is the most important step in gene expression.

$•$Elongation - The covalent addition of nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing polynucleotide chain. This involves the development of a short stretch of DNA that is transiently single-stranded.

$•$Termination - The recognition of the transcription termination sequence and the release of RNA polymerase. The promoter and terminator flank the structural gene in a transcription unit.