mRNA is a type of single-stranded RNA that plays a key role in protein synthesis. It is synthesized from a DNA template through the process of transcription. What does the 'm' in 'mRNA' stand for? The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries about nucleoside base modifications that led to the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.