What is the role of messenger RNA (mRNA)?

The role of messenger RNA (mRNA) is to carry genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes, where protein synthesis occurs. This process begins with transcription, where the genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into mRNA. Once formed, the mRNA travels from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for translation, the process by which ribosomes read the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA and assemble the corresponding amino acids to form proteins.

Understanding this function is crucial because it highlights the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. This mechanism is fundamental to gene expression and the overall functioning of cells. mRNA is, therefore, essential for conveying the specific instructions needed to produce the various proteins involved in the countless processes vital to life.