Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information from DNA in a cell's nucleus to the cytoplasm, where proteins are made. It acts as a messenger that conveys the instructions encoded in DNA to the cell's protein-making machinery, the ribosomes. Each sequence of three nucleotides (codon) on the mRNA corresponds to a specific amino acid, which the ribosome assembles into a protein chain during translation
. In summary, mRNA's primary role is to:
- Transfer genetic information from DNA to ribosomes.
- Serve as a template for protein synthesis by specifying the amino acid sequence of proteins.
- Enable cells to produce proteins necessary for various functions
Additionally, mRNA is used in medicine, notably in mRNA vaccines, where synthetic mRNA instructs cells to produce a viral protein (antigen). This triggers the immune system to recognize and respond to the virus without exposure to the actual pathogen
