Here's a breakdown of the process:
1. Transcription: DNA is transcribed into mRNA in the nucleus of a cell. This means the DNA sequence is copied into a complementary mRNA sequence.
2. mRNA Processing: The mRNA undergoes processing to become mature and ready for translation.
3. Translation: The mature mRNA travels from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it binds to ribosomes. The ribosome then reads the mRNA sequence in groups of three nucleotides called codons.
4. Protein Synthesis: Each codon on the mRNA corresponds to a specific amino acid. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the correct amino acids to the ribosome, where they are linked together to form a protein.
So, mRNA is the crucial intermediary that carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosomes, where protein synthesis occurs.
