Final answer:
After transcription, mRNA is processed through the addition of a 5' cap and a 3' poly-A tail, removal of introns, and splicing of exons. Once mature, it is transported to the cytoplasm to bind to ribosomes and start translation.
Step-by-step explanation:
After mature mRNA has been transcribed from DNA in the nucleus, it undergoes post-transcriptional modifications before it is ready to be translated into protein. This processing includes the addition of a 5' cap and a 3' poly-A tail to the primary RNA transcript. Spliceosomes then remove non-coding regions, called introns, and splice together the coding regions, or exons, to form the mature mRNA. Alternative splicing can produce multiple mRNA variants from the same transcript, allowing for the production of different proteins. Once mature, mRNA is transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it can bind to ribosomes to begin translation, the process of protein synthesis.