Which type of RNA is synthesized from DNA and specifies the primary structure of a protein?

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Study for the Campbell Biology Test. Engage with flashcards and diverse questions, each with explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is synthesized from DNA during the process of transcription and plays a critical role in the expression of genes. It carries the genetic information from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where proteins are synthesized. The primary structure of a protein refers to its unique sequence of amino acids, and this sequence is dictated by the nucleotide sequence of the mRNA.

During translation, the ribosomes read the sequence of codons in the mRNA to assemble the corresponding amino acids into a polypeptide chain, effectively determining the primary structure of the resulting protein. This makes mRNA essential for translating the genetic code into functional proteins.

Other types of RNA, such as ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and small nuclear RNA (snRNA), serve different roles in the cellular processes. rRNA is a component of ribosomes and helps catalyze the formation of peptide bonds during protein synthesis, tRNA carries specific amino acids to the ribosome, matching them to the corresponding codons in the mRNA, and snRNA is involved in RNA splicing within the nucleus. However, only mRNA directly encodes the information needed for assembling proteins, making it the correct choice in this context

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