Organization of template strands for transcription
In any stretch of double-stranded DNA, portions of either strand may serve as
the template strands
for particular transcriptional units [dark green boxes]. In
every case, RNA
transcription proceeds in the 5' 
3'
direction [red arrowheads].
Not all of the DNA molecule
is transcribed [grey boxes]. Remember that the 'Nontemplate
strand' will carry the 'sense' of the gene: its 5'
3' orientation
is the same as the RNA transcript
3'
direction [red arrowheads].
Not all of the DNA molecule
is transcribed [grey boxes]. Remember that the 'Nontemplate
strand' will carry the 'sense' of the gene: its 5'
3' orientation
is the same as the RNA transcript