Final answer:
Transcription is the process of using DNA as a template to produce complementary RNA molecules. It occurs in the nucleus and is followed by translation in the cytoplasm. RNA polymerase builds the mRNA using the DNA template.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transcription is the process where the DNA serves as a template to produce complementary RNA molecules. It takes place in the nucleus of the cell. RNA polymerase, an enzyme, builds the mRNA by following the base pairing rules using the DNA template strand. The resulting RNA molecule then leaves the nucleus and goes to a ribosome in the cytoplasm for translation, where the genetic code in mRNA is read to make a protein.