10 Key Differences Between Transcription and Translation

Transcription and Translation are two fundamental processes that occur in living cells to produce proteins. Although they share some similarities, there are also several significant differences between them.

Here are some of the major differences:

Transcription

1. Transcription is the process of making RNA from DNA.
2. The raw materials for transcription are four types of ribo-nucleoside triphosphates: ATP, GTP, CTP, and UTP.
3. The template for transcription is the antisense strand of DNA.
4. Transcription requires RNA polymerases and some transcription factors.
5. Three types of RNA are formed during transcription: rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA.
6. An adapter molecule is not required during transcription.
7. Transcription occurs inside the nucleus in eukaryotes and in the cytoplasm in prokaryotes.
8. During transcription, the polymerase moves over the template.
9. The product of transcription often requires splicing.
10. After transcription, the product undergoes processing that involves cutting, modification of nitrogen bases, folding, and attaching specific groups at the ends.

Translation

1. Translation is the process of synthesizing a polypeptide over ribosome.
2. The raw materials for translation are 20 types of amino acids.
3. The template for translation is mRNA.
4. All three types of RNA (rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA) take part in translation.
5. During translation, the ribosome moves over mRNA.
6. Translation requires initiation, elongation, and translocase factors.
7. Adapter molecules (also known as adaptor molecules) bring amino acids over the template during translation.
8. Splicing is absent during translation.
9. Translation occurs in the cytoplasm.
10. After translation, the processing involves occasional modification of amino acids, combining with other substances (e.g., glycosylation), and packing.

Here’s a table summarizing the main differences between transcription and translation:

Here’s a detailed explanation of the information in the table:

Feature: This column lists the features or characteristics of transcription and translation that are being compared.

Transcription: This row lists the information that applies specifically to transcription.

Translation: This row lists the information that applies specifically to translation.

Input: This column describes the input molecule for each process. Transcription uses DNA as the input molecule, while translation uses mRNA.

Raw materials: This column describes the raw materials used to build the product in each process. In transcription, the raw materials are ribonucleoside triphosphates, which are used to build RNA. In translation, the raw materials are amino acids, which are used to build proteins.

Template: This column describes the template that is used to guide the synthesis of the product in each process. In transcription, the template is the antisense strand of DNA. In translation, the template is mRNA.

Location: This column describes the location where each process occurs. In eukaryotic cells, transcription occurs inside the nucleus, while in prokaryotic cells, it occurs in the cytoplasm. Translation always occurs in the cytoplasm.

Types of RNA produced: This column describes the different types of RNA that are produced during each process. In transcription, the three types of RNA produced are ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA). In translation, all three types of RNA are involved.

Enzymes involved: This column lists the enzymes that are involved in each process. In transcription, RNA polymerase and transcription factors are required. In translation, the ribosome and translation factors are required.

Adapter molecule: This column describes the role of adapter molecules in each process. In transcription, adapter molecules are not required. In translation, transfer RNA (tRNA) acts as an adapter molecule, bringing amino acids to the ribosome.

Splicing: This column describes whether or not splicing is required in each process. In transcription, splicing is often required to remove introns and join exons together. In translation, splicing is not required.

Processing: This column describes the post-synthesis processing that occurs after transcription or translation. In transcription, the product undergoes processing that involves cutting, modification of nitrogen bases, folding, and attaching specific groups at the ends. In translation, the processing involves occasional modification of amino acids, combining with other substances (e.g., glycosylation), and packing.