Which molecule is primarily responsible for decoding genetic information?

RNA is primarily responsible for decoding genetic information as it serves as the intermediary between DNA and protein synthesis. The process begins with transcription, where a particular segment of DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA molecule carries the genetic instructions from the DNA to the ribosomes, where translation occurs. During translation, the mRNA is read by ribosomes, and transfer RNA (tRNA) brings the appropriate amino acids to form proteins.

This decoding process is crucial because while DNA holds the genetic blueprint, it is RNA that acts as the working copy that conveys this information, allowing cells to produce proteins according to the genetic instructions. The structural and functional roles of DNA, proteins, and molecules like adenosine triphosphate (ATP) do not directly involve the decoding of genetic information in the same primary way that RNA does.