No, you do not always have to replicate a piece of DNA directly prior to transcribing it. Transcription is a process where a specific segment of DNA is copied into RNA, usually messenger RNA (mRNA), which then translates the genetic information into proteins. This process occurs independently of DNA replication.
DNA replication is the process of copying the entire DNA molecule to ensure that each new cell has the same genetic material during cell division. However, transcription only involves the copying of specific genes that are needed at a particular time. Cells can transcribe the DNA whenever it needs to produce certain proteins, without the need to replicate the entire DNA strand.
In summary, transcription and replication are two distinct processes. While both involve DNA, transcription is selective and does not require the entire genome to be replicated beforehand.