Which strand of DNA is used during transcription to produce mRNA?

During transcription, the template strand of DNA is the one utilized to synthesize messenger RNA (mRNA). This strand serves as a guide for the RNA polymerase enzyme, which reads the sequence of nucleotides on the template strand and assembles the corresponding RNA nucleotides to create a complementary mRNA strand.

The coding strand, which has a sequence that is identical to the mRNA (except for the substitution of uracil for thymine), is not used as the template for transcription. The term "non-coding strand" typically refers to the same strand as the template, emphasizing that it does not code for a protein but provides the necessary sequence for mRNA synthesis. The leading strand, on the other hand, is a term used in DNA replication rather than transcription and pertains to the direction in which DNA is synthesized.

This highlights the specific role of the template strand in ensuring the accurate production of mRNA, which is crucial for translating the genetic information into proteins.