Which process involves the use of information from a gene to create a specific cellular product?

The process that involves the use of information from a gene to create a specific cellular product is gene expression. Gene expression encompasses the entire process by which the information encoded in a gene is translated into a functional product, which could be a protein or a functional RNA molecule. This process includes two main stages: transcription and translation.

During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is copied to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA then serves as a template for translation, where ribosomes synthesize proteins based on the sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA. Therefore, while transcription and protein synthesis are crucial components of gene expression, they are part of the broader context of gene expression that ultimately results in the production of cellular products.

DNA replication, on the other hand, is the process of copying the entire DNA molecule prior to cell division, which is essential for genetic continuity but does not directly lead to the production of a cellular product. Thus, gene expression encompasses all activities, including transcription and translation, that lead from the information in a gene to the creation of a functional product.