Where Do Transcription Occur?

In eukaryotes, transcription and translation take place in different cellular compartments: transcription takes place in the membrane-bounded nucleus, whereas translation takes place outside the nucleus in the cytoplasm. In prokaryotes, the two processes are closely coupled (Figure 28.15).

Where does transcription occur in the body?

Transcription takes place in the nucleus. It uses DNA as a template to make an RNA molecule. RNA then leaves the nucleus and goes to a ribosome in the cytoplasm, where translation occurs. Translation reads the genetic code in mRNA and makes a protein.

Where does transcription occur in the cell?

Thus, in eukaryotes, while transcription occurs in the nucleus, translation occurs in the cytoplasm. In other words, eukaryotic transcription and translation are spatially and temporally isolated.