Which of the following processes occurs first in the gene expression pathway?

In the gene expression pathway, transcription is the first process that occurs. During transcription, a specific segment of DNA is transcribed to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). This step is crucial as it involves the copying of genetic information from DNA, which can then be translated into proteins.

After transcription, the mRNA undergoes processing, which includes modifications like adding a 5’ cap and a poly-A tail, and splicing out introns. Translation, the following step, is where ribosomes synthesize proteins based on the sequence of the mRNA. Mutation, while it can affect gene expression and produce changes to DNA, is not a step in the gene expression pathway itself. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the sequence and function of each part of the gene expression process.