Commonly confused
Transcription vs Translation
Transcription copies a gene from DNA into RNA. Translation reads that RNA to build a protein. Two steps, one direction: DNA to RNA to protein.
Transcription
Happens first, in the nucleus. RNA polymerase reads a DNA gene and makes a messenger RNA copy (with U in place of T). Output: RNA.
Translation
Happens second, at the ribosome. The ribosome reads the RNA three bases at a time and joins amino acids in that order. Output: a protein.
The trap
Match by output: transcription makes RNA, translation makes protein. Students swap them or think they happen together. Order and place matter: transcription (nucleus, makes RNA) comes before translation (ribosome, makes protein).
Where this connects
Both steps run on the same base-pairing rule that copies DNA. Learn the pairing once and the whole flow from gene to protein reads as one idea.
The rule underneath all three →Quick check
Which correctly pairs each step with its product?
- ATranscription makes protein; translation makes RNA
- BTranscription makes RNA; translation makes protein
- CBoth make protein
- DBoth make RNA