Final answer:
The mRNA strand goes through further processing in the nucleus before leaving for the cytoplasm, where protein synthesis takes place.
Step-by-step explanation:
Once the mRNA strand has been transcribed, it goes through further processing in the nucleus before leaving for the cytoplasm, where protein synthesis takes place. In the nucleus, the mRNA undergoes modifications such as the addition of a 5' methylguanosine cap and a 3' poly-A tail, which protect the mRNA and allow it to be exported from the nucleus.
Additionally, introns, which are non-coding regions, are removed through a process called splicing. This results in a mature mRNA molecule that leaves the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm for translation by ribosomes, where the mRNA code is read and a protein is synthesized.