How does DNA relate to RNA?

DNA serves as a template for RNA synthesis, a fundamental concept in molecular biology known as transcription. This process begins when RNA polymerase binds to a specific region on the DNA, unwinding the double helix to expose the coding sequences. The RNA polymerase then synthesizes a complementary strand of RNA by adding ribonucleotides that are complementary to the DNA template strand.

This relationship is crucial for the expression of genes, turning the genetic code stored in DNA into functional products, such as proteins, through the intermediate formation of RNA. The resulting RNA can take various forms, including mRNA (messenger RNA), which then carries the genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes where proteins are synthesized.

While it is true that RNA and DNA both carry genetic information, the primary relationship in this context is their role in transcription. The other options incorrectly describe either the directionality of the information flow or the synthesis pathways, while both the synthesis of RNA and its role as a template for DNA synthesis are not correct in the conventional understanding of molecular biology processes.