Transcription vs Translation: what's the difference?
A-Level Biology
The two stages of protein synthesis. Transcription makes mRNA from DNA; translation makes a polypeptide from mRNA.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Transcription vs Translation — side by side
| Transcription | Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it happens | Nucleus | Ribosome (cytoplasm / rough ER) |
| Template used | DNA (template strand) | mRNA |
| Product | mRNA (pre-mRNA → mRNA) | Polypeptide (protein) |
| Key enzyme/structure | RNA polymerase | Ribosome + tRNA |
| Base pairing | DNA→RNA (A–U, T–A, C–G, G–C) | Codon–anticodon (mRNA–tRNA) |
Exam tip — how to tell them apart: Transcription = "trans-SCRIPT" = writing a script (mRNA copy). Translation = converting that script into a different language (amino acids).
Common trap: Don't say DNA leaves the nucleus — it does not; the mRNA copy does. And remember RNA uses uracil (U), not thymine (T).
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