Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Definition

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a type of RNA that serves as an intermediary between the DNA in the nucleus and the protein synthesis machinery in the cytoplasm. It carries the genetic code from DNA to ribosomes, where it is translated into a specific protein sequence.

Related terms

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid, which stores genetic information in cells and serves as a template for mRNA synthesis.

Ribosome:

A cellular structure that translates mRNA into protein by reading its sequence and assembling amino acids into polypeptide chains.

Transcription:

The process by which DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA), initiating gene expression