The process of making an mRNA copy of a gene is called transcription.

Here's a breakdown:

* Gene: A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein.

* Transcription: The process where an enzyme called RNA polymerase reads the DNA sequence of a gene and creates a complementary copy in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA).

* mRNA: A molecule that carries the genetic code from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where protein synthesis takes place.

So, transcription is essentially the first step in protein synthesis.