DNA to mRNA Converter

Use our DNA to mRNA converter to transcribe sequences, translate mRNA to proteins, and learn how transcription and translation work.

CreatorFrank Zhao

How to use

Choose the conversion direction, enter your sequence, and see the converted sequence and protein below.

Convert sequence from:

Input DNA sequence

More info

ExampleInput DNA sequence: ACGT

DNA sequence

ACG T

mRNA sequence

UGC A

Protein (amino acids)

CYS

1DNA → mRNA (transcription)

\begin{aligned} A &\to U\\ T &\to A\\ C &\to G\\ G &\to C \end{aligned}

2mRNA → DNA (reverse)

\begin{aligned} U &\to A\\ A &\to T\\ C &\to G\\ G &\to C \end{aligned}

3mRNA → Protein (translation)

Read mRNA in codons of 3 bases: b₁b₂b₃, b₄b₅b₆...

Map each codon to an amino acid using the codon table; stop at STOP.

AAdenine

CCytosine

GGuanine

TThymine

UUracil

b_iBase in sequence

🧬

Introduction / Overview

Use our DNA to mRNA converter to quickly explore one of the most important ideas in molecular biology: information flows from $\text{DNA}$ to $\text{RNA}$ to $\text{protein}$ .

✅ Fast answer: DNA → mRNA is transcription. mRNA → protein is translation.

Who is this tool for?

Students reviewing transcription/translation or the “central dogma” concept.
Lab learners checking base-pair complements and codon triplets.
Anyone who wants a quick “sanity check” for a short sequence.

💡

Related calculators:

If you also need counts and concentrations around your sequences, try our DNA copy number calculator, DNA concentration calculator, and protein concentration calculator.

🧫

DNA to RNA to protein converter: What is DNA?

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the long-term storage of genetic instructions. You can think of it as a high-fidelity archive: it keeps the “recipe book” safe inside the nucleus (in most cells).

DNA is built from nucleotides

A nitrogenous base
A sugar (deoxyribose)
A phosphate group

DNA bases you’ll see in sequences:

ACGT

DNA is usually double-stranded, and bases pair up as $A\text{–}T$ and $G\text{–}C$ .

💡

Central dogma (simple version): information usually flows $\text{DNA} \to \text{RNA} \to \text{protein}$ — and some organisms (like retroviruses) can also go $\text{RNA} \to \text{DNA}$ .

📨

DNA to mRNA calculator: What is mRNA?

mRNA (messenger RNA) is the short-lived “working copy” of a gene. When a cell needs a specific protein, it makes an mRNA copy of the relevant DNA region, then uses that mRNA as the instruction sheet for building the protein.

Key differences between DNA and mRNA

Feature	DNA	mRNA
Sugar	Deoxyribose	Ribose
Bases	A C G T	A C G U
Strands	Typically double-stranded	Typically single-stranded
Where it acts	Mostly stays in the nucleus	Goes to ribosomes for translation

By convention, sequences are written in the $5^{\prime} \to 3^{\prime}$ direction. Ribosomes also read mRNA in that direction during translation.

🧩

What are proteins?

Proteins are chains of amino acids that fold into specific shapes. That shape is what gives a protein its job — like speeding up a reaction (enzymes), carrying oxygen (hemoglobin), or helping the immune system recognize intruders (antibodies).

🧪

Enzymes

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body.

🧲

Transport & structure

Some carry molecules; others provide structure (like collagen).

✍️

Protein synthesis: DNA to mRNA transcription

Transcription is the process of making an mRNA strand that is complementary to a DNA template. In practice, RNA polymerase “reads” the DNA and builds RNA using base-pair rules — with one big twist: RNA uses $U$ instead of $T$ .

Base-pair rules (DNA → mRNA)

\begin{aligned} A &\to U\\ T &\to A\\ C &\to G\\ G &\to C \end{aligned}

💡

Pro Tip: If you paste a messy string with spaces, numbers, or punctuation, the converter ignores invalid characters and keeps only valid bases.

🧾

Protein synthesis: mRNA to protein translation

Translation is the “decoding” step. Ribosomes read mRNA in chunks of three bases (codons). Each codon maps to an amino acid. Translation stops when a stop codon is encountered.

A codon is three bases:

\text{codon} = b_1b_2b_3

\text{,}\; b_i \in \{A,C,G,U\}

This is why the output groups sequences into triplets — it matches how codons are read.

🧭

How to use the DNA to mRNA converter

Pick the direction

Choose DNA → mRNA or mRNA → DNA. The results and colors update to match your selection.

Paste a sequence

DNA accepts $A,C,G,T$ . mRNA accepts $A,C,G,U$ . Any other characters are ignored.

Read the outputs

You’ll see the converted nucleic acid sequence and a translated amino-acid chain (3-letter codes).

Share or clear

Use Share to copy a link (with or without inputs), or Clear to reset everything.

📝

Example: How to convert DNA into mRNA by hand

Let’s do a quick “by hand” transcription example. Suppose your DNA sequence is:

\text{DNA} = \texttt{ACGTAC}

Step 1: apply base pairing

A\to U

\quad

C\to G

\quad

G\to C

\quad

T\to A

Step 2: convert the full string

\texttt{ACGTAC}

\to

\texttt{UGCAUG}

Optional: translate into amino acids

\texttt{UGC}\ \texttt{AUG}

\to

\text{CYS-MET}

Using the converter is the same process — just faster, cleaner, and less error-prone.

📖

DNA to protein calculator: Amino acid reference table

The converter outputs proteins using three-letter amino-acid codes (like $\text{MET}$ ). If you want to read single-letter codes, use the table below.

Amino acid	3-letter	1-letter
Alanine	ALA	A
Arginine	ARG	R
Asparagine	ASN	N
Aspartic acid	ASP	D
Cysteine	CYS	C
Glutamic acid	GLU	E
Glutamine	GLN	Q
Glycine	GLY	G
Histidine	HIS	H
Isoleucine	ILE	I
Leucine	LEU	L
Lysine	LYS	K
Methionine	MET	M
Phenylalanine	PHE	F
Proline	PRO	P
Serine	SER	S
Threonine	THR	T
Tryptophan	TRP	W
Tyrosine	TYR	Y
Valine	VAL	V

❓

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I transcribe DNA to mRNA?

Use complementary base pairing (DNA → RNA):

A\to U

\quad

T\to A

\quad

C\to G

\quad

G\to C

Tip: the converter ignores spaces and punctuation, so you can paste messy sequences.

Is DNA → mRNA transcription or translation?

DNA → mRNA is transcription. Translation starts only when mRNA is decoded into amino acids.

Is mRNA always written 5′ to 3′?

Yes — by convention, mRNA sequences are written in the $5^{\prime} \to 3^{\prime}$ direction. Ribosomes read codons in that direction during translation.

How is the DNA sequence ACGGGTAAGG transcribed into mRNA?

Apply the base rules to each character:

\texttt{ACGGGTAAGG}

\to

\texttt{UGCCCAUUCC}

What are the three major types of RNA?

mRNA carries the message (the sequence to be translated).
rRNA forms the core of ribosomes.
tRNA brings amino acids to match each codon.

Does this replace a full bioinformatics translator?

It’s a learning-focused tool for quick checks. It won’t model things like reading frames, introns/exons, or organism-specific codon usage.

⚠️

Limitations / Disclaimers

Educational use only. It’s not medical, diagnostic, or clinical advice.
Protein translation here is a simplified mapping of codons to 3-letter amino acid codes.
For research-grade analysis, use curated reference tools and confirm organism-specific rules.

📖

Academic References

1. The Core Mechanism: From DNA to RNA

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2002). "From DNA to RNA". Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th ed.). Garland Science.
Cooper, G. M. (2000). "Transcription in Prokaryotes". The Cell: A Molecular Approach (2nd ed.). Sinauer Associates.
Watson, J. D. (2013). Molecular Biology of the Gene (7th ed.). Pearson Higher Ed USA.

2. Chemical Logic: Why Uracil (U) Instead of Thymine (T)?

Vértessy, B. G., & Tóth, J. (2009). "Keeping Uracil Out of DNA: Physiological Role, Structure and Catalytic Mechanism of dUTPases". Accounts of Chemical Research, 42(1), 97–106.

3. The Genetic Code & Historical Context

Crick, F. H. (1968). "The origin of the genetic code". Journal of Molecular Biology, 38(3), 367–379.
Brenner, S., Jacob, F., & Meselson, M. (1961). "An Unstable Intermediate Carrying Information from Genes to Ribosomes for Protein Synthesis". Nature, 190, 576–581.
Cobb, M. (2015). "Who discovered messenger RNA?" Current Biology, 25(13), R526–R532.

Related Calculators

Cat Pregnancy Calculator

The cat pregnancy calculator will compute the due date of your favorite feline.

Try Now

Dog Life Expectancy Calculator

The dog life expectancy calculator estimates the age of your dog based on their breed and gives their average life expectancy.

Try Now

Dog Age Calculator

Convert your dog's age to human years based on breed and size.

Try Now

Dog Pregnancy Calculator

The dog pregnancy calculator provides you with your dog's due date.

Try Now

Benadryl Dosage Calculator for Dogs

Our Benadryl dosage calculator for dogs will compute an optimal dose of Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) for your pet.

Try Now

Dog Quality of Life Calculator

Discover how to measure a dog's quality of life with our insightful pet quality of life scale calculator. Ensure their well-being now!

Try Now