Transcription vs Translation
The main purpose of DNA is to use genes to create proteins. The steps DNA must go through to achieve this are known as transcription and translation. First we must start with the molecules themselves. DNA and RNA are very similar and are both nucleotide polymers (Council-Garcia). DNA is a double helix and is two sided whereas RNA is single sided (Council Garcia). When DNA is copied by RNA, RNA copies only one strand of the DNA, and switches one of the nitrogen bases, it trades thymine for uracil (Council-Garcia). Now that the major differences between DNA and RNA have been noted, the processes of transcription and translation can be discussed, starting with transcription.
Transcription occurs inside the nucleus and is the beginning of the process of making proteins. The transcription process has three steps: initiation, chain elongation, and termination (Ophardt, Charles). Initiation is the beginning process, it is when RNA polymerase bonds with the promoter gene on the DNA molecule (Ophardt, Charles). The next step, elongation, occurs when the RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA. It matches the exposed nitrogen bases with the matching nitrogen bases to make codons (Ophardt, Charles). The mRNA is very similar except that it switches thymine with uracil. Termination is once the RNA polymerase reaches the end of the gene and the mRNA is capped.
Translation has different steps than transcription and is done in a different manor. Transcription synthesizes mRNA from 3’ to 5’ while translation reads the mRNA from 5’ to 3’ (Clancy and Brown). Translation occurs in the cytosol where a ribosome and tRNA hook onto the mRNA and read three codon sequences called codons (Clancy and Brown). The tRNA contains anti-codons that match the complimentary base pairs of the codon on the mRNA. TRNA carries amino acids on the end of it that form a chain of amino acids as each tRNA is shuffled along the mRNA through the ribosome (Clandy and Brown). Each anti-codon codes for a specific amino acid that is carried via tRNA molecules. The process of translation begins at the start codon, AUG, and ends at one of the stop codons, UGA, UAG, or UAA. At the end of translation, the end product is a protein that can be sent to the golgi to be shaped and formed according to its purpose.
Transcription and translation combine as the two processes by which the cell makes the proteins it needs to survive and ensure the survival of other cells.

Works cited
Clancy, Suzanne, and William Brown. (2008). Translation: DNA to mRNA to Protein. Nature Education. Retrieved February 10th, 2014, from http://www.nature.com.
Council-Garcia, Cara. (2002). Transcription and Translation. UNM Biology Undergraduate Labs. Retrieved February 10th, 2014, from http://biology.unm.edu.
Ophardt, Charles. (2003). RNA- Transcription. Virtual Chembook Elmhurst College. Retrieved February 10th, 2014, from http://www.elmhurst.edu.