mRNA
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | Messenger RNA |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
mRNA stands for Messenger RNA, a biology abbreviation.
RNA copy of a gene that carries protein-building instructions from DNA in the nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where each three-letter codon specifies an amino acid. Synthetic mRNA is the basis of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, which instruct cells to make a harmless piece of viral protein.
Example: The vaccine's mRNA is broken down by the body within days and never enters the cell nucleus.
Usage notes
Sydney Brenner, François Jacob and Matthew Meselson demonstrated the existence of messenger RNA in 1961. Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman found that swapping uridine for modified nucleosides keeps synthetic mRNA from triggering harmful inflammation, earning the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Written with a lowercase m and pronounced "em-R-N-A."
Related abbreviations
More biology abbreviations
- LUCA – Last universal common ancestor
- mAb – Monoclonal antibody
- MHC – Major histocompatibility complex
- MIC – Minimum inhibitory concentration
- MOI – Multiplicity of infection
- MRCA – Most recent common ancestor
- NAD – Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
- NADH – Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced)
- NADPH – Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced)
- NPP – Net primary production
- OD – Optical density
- PBS – Phosphate-buffered saline