Where does transcription occur in eukaryotic cells?

Where does transcription occur in eukaryotic cells?

• A. In the cytoplasm.
• B. At ribosomes.
• C. In the nucleus.
• D. In mitochondria.

Answer: (C)

In eukaryotic cells, transcription happens in the nucleus. DNA stays inside the nucleus, and RNA polymerases copy that DNA into RNA right there, with the transcripts then undergoing processing (like capping, splicing, and adding a poly-A tail) before they are exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Translation, not transcription, occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm (or on the rough ER). There is transcription in mitochondria as well, but that occurs in a separate compartment and involves a small, specialized transcription system. For the general, standard site where most genes are transcribed in a eukaryotic cell, the nucleus is the correct location.

In eukaryotic cells, transcription happens in the nucleus. DNA stays inside the nucleus, and RNA polymerases copy that DNA into RNA right there, with the transcripts then undergoing processing (like capping, splicing, and adding a poly-A tail) before they are exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Translation, not transcription, occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm (or on the rough ER). There is transcription in mitochondria as well, but that occurs in a separate compartment and involves a small, specialized transcription system. For the general, standard site where most genes are transcribed in a eukaryotic cell, the nucleus is the correct location.