Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

mRNA, or messenger RNA, plays a critical role in the process of protein synthesis. It serves as the intermediary between the genetic information encoded in DNA and the formation of proteins. During transcription, the sequence of nucleotides in DNA is copied into mRNA, which carries this genetic blueprint from the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Once at the ribosomes, mRNA is translated into a specific sequence of amino acids, creating proteins necessary for various cellular functions.

In contrast, other types of genetic material have different functions in the overall process. DNA contains the original genetic instructions and is the template for transcription, but it does not directly participate in the synthesis of proteins. tRNA, or transfer RNA, is involved in bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome during translation but does not carry the genetic message. rRNA, or ribosomal RNA, is a structural component of ribosomes and assists in the translation process, but it does not directly code for proteins either. Each of these types of RNA contributes to protein synthesis, but mRNA specifically is responsible for conveying the genetic code required to produce proteins.