Translation and transcription are two essential processes in the expression of genes, and they occur in different parts of the cell.
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Transcription:
- Location: Transcription occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. In prokaryotic cells, which lack a nucleus, transcription occurs in the cytoplasm.
- Process: During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). This process is facilitated by the enzyme RNA polymerase.
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Translation:
- Location: Translation occurs in the cytoplasm of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. In eukaryotic cells, it often takes place on ribosomes, which can be free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum (forming rough ER).
- Process: During translation, the mRNA produced during transcription is read by ribosomes, which use transfer RNA (tRNA) to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, ultimately forming a protein.
In summary, transcription takes place in the nucleus (or cytoplasm in prokaryotes), while translation occurs in the cytoplasm.