Which RNA carries the instructions for how to make the protein encoded within its sequence?

Which RNA carries the instructions for how to make the protein encoded within its sequence?

• A. Messenger RNA carries the protein-coding instructions.
• B. Transfer RNA carries the protein-coding instructions.
• C. Ribosomal RNA carries the protein-coding instructions.
• D. All RNA types carry protein-coding instructions.

Answer: (A)

Messenger RNA serves as the template that carries the protein-coding instructions from DNA to the ribosome. It contains codons—three-nucleotide sequences—that specify the order of amino acids in the protein. During translation, the ribosome reads these codons on mRNA and uses tRNA to bring the corresponding amino acids, with rRNA helping to form and catalyze the ribosome’s functions. Transfer RNA delivers amino acids, but does not carry the coded instructions, and ribosomal RNA is part of the ribosome itself, not the message. So the RNA that contains the instructions is messenger RNA.

Messenger RNA serves as the template that carries the protein-coding instructions from DNA to the ribosome. It contains codons—three-nucleotide sequences—that specify the order of amino acids in the protein. During translation, the ribosome reads these codons on mRNA and uses tRNA to bring the corresponding amino acids, with rRNA helping to form and catalyze the ribosome’s functions. Transfer RNA delivers amino acids, but does not carry the coded instructions, and ribosomal RNA is part of the ribosome itself, not the message. So the RNA that contains the instructions is messenger RNA.