What role does RNA play in the synthesis of proteins?

The correct role of RNA in protein synthesis is that it carries amino acids to ribosomes. This process is crucial because ribosomes are the sites where proteins are assembled. In particular, transfer RNA (tRNA) plays a key role by transporting specific amino acids to the ribosome, which then links these amino acids together in the correct order to form a polypeptide chain, ultimately creating a functional protein.

The importance of tRNA in this process underscores the relationship between nucleotide sequence in messenger RNA (mRNA) and the sequence of amino acids in proteins. Each tRNA molecule has an anticodon on one end, which pairs with the corresponding codon on the mRNA, ensuring that the correct amino acid is incorporated into the growing protein chain.

This role of RNA is fundamental to the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins, known as the central dogma of molecular biology, which outlines how genes are expressed through mRNA transcription and subsequent translation into proteins.