What is the result of elongation in transcription?

The result of elongation in transcription is that nucleotides are added to the growing mRNA strand. During this process, RNA polymerase moves along the DNA template strand and synthesizes the mRNA by incorporating ribonucleotides that are complementary to the DNA template. This synthesis occurs in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that new nucleotides are added to the 3' end of the growing mRNA molecule.

As elongation progresses, the newly formed mRNA strand begins to separate from the DNA template, while the DNA helix reforms behind the RNA polymerase as it continues to move downstream along the DNA. This process is essential for generating mRNA, which carries the genetic information from DNA that will eventually be translated into a protein.

Other choices involve processes that take place either before or after elongation. For instance, the synthesis of a complete protein occurs during translation, not transcription. Splicing of mRNA is a modification that happens after transcription and elongation, and the reformation of the DNA double helix occurs during transcription but is not the primary focus of the elongation phase. Thus, the key outcome of elongation is specifically the addition of nucleotides to form the mRNA strand