What is the term for the process of copying DNA to mRNA?

The process of copying DNA to mRNA is known as transcription. During transcription, an RNA polymerase enzyme binds to a specific region of the DNA and unwinds the double helix. As it moves along the DNA template strand, it synthesizes a single-stranded mRNA molecule by pairing complementary RNA nucleotides with the exposed DNA bases. This process is essential for gene expression, as it allows the genetic information stored in DNA to be transferred into a form that can be used to produce proteins.

Transcription is a crucial first step in the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA and then to protein synthesis, which occurs in a separate process called translation. Replication refers to the duplication of the entire DNA molecule, ensuring that genetic information is passed on during cell division. Translocation typically refers to the movement of chromosomal segments or the movement of tRNA during protein synthesis, which is not relevant to the copying of DNA to mRNA. Hence, transcription is the correct term for this specific process.