DNA replication is defined as the process of obtaining two virgin strands in which each strand contains part of the DNA double helix. This occurs in the S phase of the cell cycle. The enzymes involved in this process are DNA Polymerase and DNA Helicase.
Transcription, on the other hand, is the process of transferring genetic information from DNA to RNA. This process occurs in the G1 and G2 phases of the cell. It is synthesized by RNA polymerase.
What Is Replication?
DNA replication is the process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is split into two identical daughter strands.
Therefore during cell division, each daughter cell contains the same genetic information as the parent cell. The main enzyme responsible for DNA replication is DNA polymerase. Each strand adds a new nucleotide.
What Is Transcription?
Transcription is the conversion of DNA molecules into RNA. RNA polymerase uses one of the DNA strands as a template to make a complementary RNA molecule. The RNA molecule produced is known as a transcript
Difference between Replication and Transcription
|
Replication |
Transcription |
|
Occurrence |
|
| S phase of the cell cycle | G1 and G2 phase of the cell cycle |
|
Primer |
|
| Requires RNA primer for replication to start | Does not require a primer |
|
Enzymes |
|
| DNA Polymerase, DNA Helicase | RNA polymerase, Transcriptase |
|
Genome copy |
|
| Entire genome is copied | Only certain genes are copied |
|
Position |
|
| Found along the DNA strand | Found only along 1 strand of DNA |
|
Raw material |
|
| dATP, dTTP, dCTP and dGTP | ATP, GTP, CTP, and UTP |
|
Intend |
|
| Conserving genome for further generations | Making copies of RNA of genes individually |
|
Result |
|
| Two daughter strands | mRNA, rRNA, non-coding RNA and tRNA |
|
Degradation |
|
| Products do not degrade | Products degrade |
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