Which process synthesizes messenger RNA (mRNA) using genetic information from DNA as a template?

The process that synthesizes messenger RNA (mRNA) using genetic information from DNA as a template is transcription. During transcription, the DNA double helix unwinds, and one strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a complementary RNA strand. RNA polymerase is the enzyme that facilitates this process by reading the DNA sequence and assembling the corresponding RNA nucleotides to form the mRNA molecule.

Transcription is crucial for gene expression, as it is the first step in the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins. The resulting mRNA then carries the code needed to produce proteins during the next stage of gene expression, known as translation.

Other processes mentioned in the options serve different functions in the cell. Translation, for instance, refers to the synthesis of proteins based on the sequence of mRNA rather than involving the formation of mRNA itself. Replication involves copying the entire DNA molecule to ensure genetic information is passed on during cell division. Transduction, on the other hand, typically refers to the process by which external genetic material is introduced into a cell by a virus, rather than the transcription of DNA into RNA.