What is the role of DNA in the process of protein synthesis?

The role of DNA in protein synthesis is to act as a template, which is fundamental to the process. During protein synthesis, the information encoded in DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA then serves as a guide for assembling amino acids in the correct sequence to form a specific protein.

DNA contains the genetic code that determines the structure of proteins. Each gene, a segment of DNA, corresponds to a specific protein and includes the instructions necessary to build that protein. After transcription, the mRNA carries the genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosomes, where the actual synthesis of proteins occurs. This process highlights DNA’s critical function in dictating the sequence of amino acids, thereby shaping the structure and function of proteins in the cell.

Other options like catalyzing chemical reactions, modifying proteins, or transporting amino acids pertain to different molecules and functions in the cell, such as enzymes, chaperones, and transfer RNA (tRNA), rather than the direct role of DNA in protein synthesis.