What is mRNA responsible for in the process of protein synthesis?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a crucial role in the process of protein synthesis by encoding the genetic information necessary to produce proteins. During transcription, a segment of DNA is copied into mRNA, which carries this genetic blueprint from the nucleus to the ribosomes, the sites of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm. The sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA corresponds to specific amino acids, and this sequence dictates how the amino acids will be assembled to form a protein.

The entire process of protein synthesis involves several key steps including transcription (where mRNA is created) and translation (where the ribosome reads the mRNA sequence and synthesizes the corresponding polypeptide chain). The mRNA essentially serves as the intermediary between the genetic code in DNA and the resulting proteins, making it essential for the correct expression of genes into functional proteins.