Which molecule carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the molecule that carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome. This process begins with transcription, where a specific segment of DNA is copied into mRNA. Once formed, mRNA exits the nucleus and travels to the ribosome, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis during translation.

In the context of cellular processes, mRNA is essential because it directly correlates with the gene it was transcribed from and contains the codons that dictate the specific amino acid sequence in a protein. Each triplet of nucleotides in mRNA corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during translation, allowing proteins to be assembled accurately.

Other molecules mentioned, such as tRNA and rRNA, play significant roles in the translation process but are not responsible for carrying genetic information from the nucleus. tRNA brings the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the mRNA codons, while rRNA is a component of the ribosomal structure itself, facilitating the assembly of proteins. DNA, while crucial as the source of genetic information, remains in the nucleus and does not function in transporting that information to the ribosomes.