Which molecule is primarily responsible for carrying genetic information during the translation process?

During the translation process, messenger RNA (mRNA) is the molecule primarily responsible for carrying genetic information. mRNA is synthesized from DNA during transcription and serves as a template for protein synthesis in ribosomes. The sequence of nucleotides in mRNA encodes the specific amino acid sequence of a protein, which is crucial for determining that protein’s structure and function.

tRNA (transfer RNA) plays a role in translation as well, but its function is not to carry the genetic information itself; instead, tRNA helps decode the mRNA by bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome according to the sequence on the mRNA. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), on the other hand, is a structural component of the ribosome and also plays a catalytic role in the formation of peptide bonds, but it does not carry genetic information.

Therefore, mRNA's role as the carrier of genetic information during translation solidifies its significance in the process of protein synthesis.