Here's how it works:
* DNA Template: One strand of the DNA double helix serves as the template strand. This strand contains the genetic information that needs to be transcribed into RNA.
* RNA Polymerase: The enzyme RNA polymerase binds to the DNA template strand at a specific site called the promoter.
* Transcription: RNA polymerase reads the template strand base by base, using the base pairing rules (A with U, G with C) to synthesize a complementary RNA molecule. This process is called transcription.
* RNA Molecule: The resulting RNA molecule is a single-stranded copy of the DNA template, carrying the genetic information encoded in the DNA.
So, in summary, RNA polymerase uses one strand of DNA as a blueprint or template to create a new RNA molecule.
