What effect does the enzyme RNA polymerase have during transcription?

During transcription, the primary role of RNA polymerase is to synthesize RNA from the DNA template. This enzyme binds to the DNA at a specific region known as the promoter, where it unwinds a small portion of the DNA double helix. Following this unwinding, RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand and catalyzes the formation of a complementary RNA strand by sequentially adding RNA nucleotides that are paired with the corresponding DNA bases.

The synthesis process involves the formation of covalent bonds between the ribonucleotides, which results in the elongation of the RNA strand. This newly synthesized RNA molecule is a crucial intermediary in the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins, highlighting its fundamental role in gene expression.

In contrast, the other functions listed, such as repairing DNA or splicing RNA, are carried out by different enzymes and cellular processes. Thus, the action of RNA polymerase as the enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA during transcription is pivotal in cellular biology and molecular genetics.