What is the role of messenger RNA (mRNA) in protein synthesis?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a crucial role in protein synthesis by carrying genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. It does this by serving as a template that conveys the instructions encoded in the DNA. The sequence of nucleotides in mRNA is organized into codons, which are groups of three bases. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during the process of translation, the stage in protein synthesis where the actual assembly of amino acids into a protein occurs.

Because mRNA effectively translates the genetic code into a language that can be interpreted by the ribosome, it is essential for directing the synthesis of proteins in accordance with the genetic instructions laid out in the DNA. This ability to convey genetic information as a series of codons is what makes option C the correct answer. Transcribing DNA into RNA, transporting amino acids, or inhibiting protein synthesis do not accurately describe the primary function of mRNA in the context of protein synthesis.