Which type of molecule is mRNA classified as?

mRNA, or messenger RNA, is classified as a nucleic acid. This classification is based on its structural and functional characteristics. Nucleic acids, which include both DNA and RNA, are polymers made up of nucleotide monomers. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

mRNA plays a crucial role in the process of gene expression, serving as the intermediary that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. It is transcribed from DNA in the nucleus and then translated into a specific sequence of amino acids to form proteins.

Understanding the classification of mRNA as a nucleic acid is essential since it underpins the molecular biology concepts related to the flow of genetic information and the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes how genetic information transfers from DNA to RNA and ultimately to proteins.