Which of the following is the earliest step in transcription? A. RNA polymerase encounters a termination signal, and the DNA molecule is released. B. Complementary RNA nucleotides are synthesized and added to the mRNA molecule. C. Introns are excised from the pre-mRNA strand. D. RNA polymerase binds to the promoter on the template strand of DNA.

D.

Explanation:

Transcription is the first step in gene expression. It involves duplicating a gene's DNA sequence to make an RNA molecule.

It is performed by enzymes called RNA polymerases, which link nucleotides to form an RNA strand (using a DNA strand as a template)

D. RNA polymerase binds to the promoter on the template strand of DNA.

Explanation: The first step in transcription is termed initiation step. In this step, the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a region or section of a gene called the promoter. This specific action results to the signalling of the DNA to unwind so the enzyme can decode the bases in the DNA strands. The enzyme now make a strand of mRNA with contemporary bases.