What is the formation of mRNA called?

The formation of mRNA is referred to as transcription. During transcription, the enzyme RNA polymerase reads the DNA sequence of a gene and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand. This process occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and is the first step in gene expression. The resulting mRNA strand carries the genetic information from the DNA out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm, where it can be translated into a protein.

This is distinct from translation, which is the subsequent process where the mRNA is decoded by ribosomes to synthesize proteins. Replication, on the other hand, refers to the process of duplicating DNA, ensuring that each new cell receives an exact copy of the genome. Translocation typically involves the movement of molecules, such as proteins and ions, across membrane barriers and is not related to the synthesis of mRNA. Thus, the correct identification of mRNA formation as transcription is essential for understanding the flow of genetic information within a cell.