* Transcription: This is the process of copying genetic information from DNA to RNA. It's the first step in gene expression.
* Translation: This is the process of using the information encoded in mRNA to build proteins. It occurs after transcription.
Think of it like this:
* Transcription: You have a recipe written in a language you don't understand (DNA). You need to copy it into a language you *do* understand (RNA).
* Translation: You're using the recipe (RNA) to actually cook the dish (protein).
You can't cook a dish without a recipe, and you can't cook from a recipe written in a language you don't understand. Similarly, you can't translate the genetic code into protein without first transcribing it into a form that can be read by the ribosomes (mRNA).
Therefore, translation always happens after transcription, never before.
