What best describes the function of mRNA?

The function of mRNA, or messenger RNA, is primarily to serve as a carrier of genetic information. It transcribes the genetic code from DNA in the nucleus and transports this information to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where protein synthesis occurs. This function is crucial because the ribosomes read the sequence of the mRNA to assemble amino acids into a specific protein, based on the instructions encoded in the mRNA.

This process is part of the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes how genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins. By carrying the genetic blueprint required for protein synthesis from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, mRNA plays a vital role in gene expression, ensuring that cells can produce the proteins needed for their functions.

In contrast, other options focus on different aspects of molecular biology. While proteins are synthesized based on the instructions carried by mRNA, mRNA itself does not synthesize proteins. DNA replication refers to the process of making a copy of DNA, rather than the role of mRNA, which is not involved in this process. Lastly, ribosomal RNA (rRNA), not mRNA, has the structural role within ribosomes, contributing to the formation of the ribosomal framework necessary for translation. This deline