Final answer:
Rho-independent termination is a mechanism of transcription termination in bacteria that occurs when the RNA polymerase encounters a region rich in C-G nucleotides near the end of a gene. The mRNA transcript folds into a hairpin loop, causing the polymerase to stall and dissociate from the DNA template.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rho-independent termination is a mechanism of transcription termination in bacteria that does not require the involvement of the rho protein. It occurs when the RNA polymerase encounters a region rich in C-G nucleotides on the DNA template near the end of a gene. In this process, the mRNA transcript folds into a hairpin loop, causing the polymerase to stall and eventually dissociate from the template DNA.