Final answer:
mRNA serves as a direct template for constructing proteins during translation, carrying genetic instructions from DNA and directing the order of amino acid assembly.
Step-by-step explanation:
mRNA molecules play a critical role in the process of protein synthesis by serving as a direct template for amino acid assembly during translation. During transcription in the cell nucleus, mRNA is synthesized and carries the genetic instructions from DNA. Once in the cytoplasm, mRNA interacts with ribosomes and other cellular machinery to direct the synthesis of the protein it encodes.
This process involves reading the mRNA in sets of three bases, known as codons, each of which specifies a single amino acid. The sequence of codons in the mRNA determines the order in which amino acids are assembled to produce a protein.