Which RNA serves as a template for protein synthesis?

Which RNA serves as a template for protein synthesis?

• A. rRNA
• B. mRNA
• C. tRNA
• D. ncRNA

Answer: (B)

During protein synthesis, the information carried by DNA is first transcribed into a messenger molecule that serves as the template for building the protein. This messenger RNA contains codons, triplets of nucleotides, each specifying a particular amino acid. The ribosome reads these codons and, with the help of transfer RNAs that deliver the corresponding amino acids, assembles the polypeptide in the correct order. The ribosome itself is made partly of ribosomal RNA, which provides structure and catalytic activity, but does not act as the template. Transfer RNA has the role of matching codons to amino acids, not providing the template sequence. Noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression or RNA processing rather than directing protein assembly. So the molecule that serves as the template for protein synthesis is messenger RNA.

During protein synthesis, the information carried by DNA is first transcribed into a messenger molecule that serves as the template for building the protein. This messenger RNA contains codons, triplets of nucleotides, each specifying a particular amino acid. The ribosome reads these codons and, with the help of transfer RNAs that deliver the corresponding amino acids, assembles the polypeptide in the correct order. The ribosome itself is made partly of ribosomal RNA, which provides structure and catalytic activity, but does not act as the template. Transfer RNA has the role of matching codons to amino acids, not providing the template sequence. Noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression or RNA processing rather than directing protein assembly. So the molecule that serves as the template for protein synthesis is messenger RNA.