Which process is involved in the production of messenger RNA (mRNA)?

The process involved in the production of messenger RNA (mRNA) is transcription. During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into mRNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase. This process takes place in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. The DNA strand unwinds and serves as a template for synthesizing the corresponding mRNA strand, which is a complementary copy of the gene's coding sequence.

Transcription is a crucial step in gene expression because it is the first step in the flow of genetic information from DNA to protein. Once mRNA is synthesized, it undergoes processing, including splicing, capping, and adding a poly-A tail, before being translated into a protein by ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

In contrast, the other processes listed do not directly produce mRNA: translation refers to the process where ribosomes synthesize proteins using the mRNA as a template. Replication involves copying the entire DNA molecule to create two identical DNA molecules during cell division. Cloning refers to creating an identical copy of an organism or a specific DNA sequence, which does not specifically relate to mRNA production.