Explain the role of RNA polymerase in transcription. RNA polymerase helps in transcribing the DNA into RNA. RNA polymerase breaks down the DNA into smaller fragments. RNA polymerase is not involved in transcription. RNA polymerase helps in replicating the RNA into DNA.

The correct statement is: **RNA polymerase helps in transcribing the DNA into RNA.**<br /><br />RNA polymerase is the key enzyme responsible for transcription. It binds to a specific region of DNA called the promoter, unwinds the DNA double helix, and then uses one strand of the DNA as a template to synthesize a complementary RNA molecule. It does this by adding RNA nucleotides one at a time, building the RNA chain based on the DNA sequence. So, it's essentially "copying" the genetic information from DNA into RNA format.<br /><br />The other options are incorrect:<br /><br />* **RNA polymerase breaks down the DNA into smaller fragments:** This describes the action of enzymes like DNases, not RNA polymerase. RNA polymerase doesn't break down DNA; it uses it as a template.<br />* **RNA polymerase is not involved in transcription:** This is directly contradictory to the actual role of RNA polymerase.<br />* **RNA polymerase helps in replicating the RNA into DNA:** This describes the action of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme found in retroviruses, not RNA polymerase. Normal transcription flows from DNA to RNA.<br />