What is the process by which RNA is synthesized from a DNA template?

The process by which RNA is synthesized from a DNA template is known as transcription. During transcription, the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a specific region of the DNA and unwinds the double helix. It then reads the DNA sequence and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand. This process is crucial because it converts the genetic information encoded in DNA into a form that can be used to produce proteins, which are essential for numerous cellular functions. Transcription occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, resulting in messenger RNA (mRNA) that carries the genetic code from the DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized.

The other processes, while related to genetics and protein synthesis, do not involve the direct synthesis of RNA from DNA. Replication refers to the process of copying DNA to ensure that each new cell receives an identical set of genetic material. Translation is the process where ribosomes create proteins based on the sequence of the mRNA. Translocation typically refers to the movement of proteins or RNA during processes like translation or the shuttling of genetic material within the cell. Each of these processes plays a distinct role in the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.