Q: Compare and contrast transcription and translation

Transcription occurs in the nucleus but translation occurs in the cytoplasm and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The two processes use different components and enzymes, transcription uses transcription factors and RNA polymerase whereas translation uses ribosomes and aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. Transcription uses DNA as a template whereas translation uses mRNA codons as a template. Transcription results in an mRNA strand being formed whereas translation results in a polypeptide being formed. The building blocks (monomers) are also different; transcription uses RNA nucleotides whereas translation uses amino acids. Transcription involves the pairing of complementary bases of DNA and free RNA nucleotides whereas translation involves the pairing of anticodon bases of tRNA and those of mRNA.