What molecule contains the instructions for synthesizing proteins?

The molecule that contains the instructions for synthesizing proteins is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. It stores the instructions necessary for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of cells. Each sequence of nucleotides in DNA corresponds to specific amino acids that will ultimately make up proteins, which are essential for numerous biological functions.

DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which serves as a intermediary that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, the site of protein synthesis. Consequently, while messenger RNA is crucial in the process of synthesizing proteins, it is the DNA that contains the original instructions.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and amino acids are also important in protein synthesis, but they play different roles. RNA, particularly in forms such as mRNA, is responsible for conveying the genetic instructions from DNA to the ribosomes, while amino acids are the building blocks that combine to form proteins based on the sequence dictated by the mRNA template. However, the core instructions themselves originate from DNA, making it the foundational molecule in protein synthesis.