Which statement accurately describes the result of transcription in human cells?

Which statement accurately describes the result of transcription in human cells?

• A. DNA is transcribed into a complementary double-stranded DNA molecule
• B. DNA is transcribed into tRNA by RNA polymerase II
• C. DNA is transcribed into a protein
• D. DNA is transcribed into a single-stranded mRNA

Answer: (D)

Transcription converts a DNA template into a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to that template. In human cells, the main product for protein-coding genes is messenger RNA (mRNA), which is made by RNA polymerase II. This RNA is then processed (capping, splicing, polyadenylation) to become mature mRNA, which is subsequently translated into a protein. So the result of transcription is a single-stranded RNA transcript, not a double-stranded DNA, not tRNA produced by RNA polymerase II, and not a protein directly.

Transcription converts a DNA template into a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to that template. In human cells, the main product for protein-coding genes is messenger RNA (mRNA), which is made by RNA polymerase II. This RNA is then processed (capping, splicing, polyadenylation) to become mature mRNA, which is subsequently translated into a protein. So the result of transcription is a single-stranded RNA transcript, not a double-stranded DNA, not tRNA produced by RNA polymerase II, and not a protein directly.