OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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Study for the OCR GCSE Biology Exam. Use multiple choice questions and quiz flashcards with explanations and hints. Excel in your exams!

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During transcription, which molecule carries the code from the DNA?

tRNA
DNA
mRNA
Amino acids

The correct answer is: mRNA

During transcription, the correct molecule that carries the code from the DNA is mRNA. This process involves the enzyme RNA polymerase, which synthesizes the mRNA strand using one of the DNA strands as a template. As mRNA is formed, it complements the DNA sequence, substituting uracil for thymine, which is a key difference between RNA and DNA. The resulting mRNA molecule carries the genetic information necessary for protein synthesis from the nucleus, where DNA is located, to the ribosomes, where proteins are made. This function is central to the flow of genetic information and is essential for cellular activities and the expression of traits. tRNA, on the other hand, is involved in translation and is responsible for bringing amino acids to the ribosome where they are assembled into proteins, while the DNA remains in the nucleus and serves as the permanent repository of genetic information. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, but they do not carry genetic information from DNA.