Proteins are produced from messenger RNA (mRNA) through a process called translation. The nucleic acid responsible for providing the genetic code that is read to assemble the protein is mRNA. Key points:
- DNA is transcribed into mRNA.
- The ribosome reads the mRNA codons (three-nucleotide units).
- Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings the corresponding amino acids.
- The amino acids are linked in the order specified by the mRNA to form a polypeptide, which folds into a functional protein.
If you’d like a quick summary in one sentence: mRNA is the nucleic acid that is translated to make a protein.
