What is the role of messenger RNA in a cell?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a vital role in the process of protein synthesis within a cell. It acts as a copy of the genetic information contained in DNA, which is located in the cell nucleus. When a cell needs to produce a specific protein, the process begins with transcription, where the DNA sequence of a gene is transcribed into mRNA. This mRNA then carries the instructions from the DNA to the ribosomes, the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis.

At the ribosome, the mRNA serves as a template for assembling amino acids in the correct sequence to form a specific protein. The ribosome translates the sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA into a sequence of amino acids, following the genetic instructions. Thus, mRNA is crucial for conveying the genetic code needed to create proteins, which perform numerous functions in the cell, including catalyzing metabolic reactions, replicating DNA, responding to stimuli, and transporting molecules.

The other options refer to functions that are not associated with mRNA. For instance, transporting oxygen is typically the role of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Facilitating cell division pertains to processes involving various factors, including DNA replication and mitotic spindle formation, which are separate from the mRNA function. Breaking