Level of life
RNA
A single-stranded relative of DNA. Messenger RNA carries a gene's instructions to ribosomes, and other RNAs help build proteins and control genes.
Messenger RNA
A copy of a gene's instructions that carries them from DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are made.Source: NHGRISource: MedlinePlus
Also called mRNA.
Molecule
How Messenger RNA connects
Messenger RNA is an example of
Messenger RNA is transcribed from
Level of life
Gene
A basic unit of heredity: a stretch of DNA with instructions for a product such as a protein or a functional RNA.
Messenger RNA is translated into
Level of life
Protein
A chain of amino acids folded into a working shape. Proteins act as enzymes, structures, signals and transporters.
Messenger RNA is used by
Process
Translation
Ribosomes read messenger RNA three bases at a time and join the matching amino acids into a protein.
Technology or method
mRNA vaccines
Vaccines that deliver mRNA instructions for a pathogen protein. Modified nucleosides help the mRNA avoid an unwanted immune alarm.
Studied in
Your progress
Sources & further reading
The explanations on this page are our own summaries of these sources. Follow a link to read the original; if anything here disagrees with it, the original wins. How we choose and check sources.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) (opens the original in a new tab)
National Human Genome Research Institute. Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms. National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH.
ReferenceGovernment sourceEducationalHow do genes direct the production of proteins? (opens the original in a new tab)
MedlinePlus Genetics. MedlinePlus Genetics. U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH.
ReferenceGovernment sourceEducational