What type of RNA carries a complementary genetic code from DNA to the ribosomes?

The type of RNA that carries a complementary genetic code from DNA to the ribosomes is messenger RNA, commonly known as mRNA. During the process of transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is used as a template to synthesize mRNA in the nucleus. This mRNA strand is complementary to the DNA and is then processed before being transported out of the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

Once at the ribosomes, the mRNA serves as a template for translation, where the sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA is read in sets of three, called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid. This process is essential for protein synthesis, as it allows the genetic information encoded in DNA to be expressed through proteins, which perform various functions within the cell and the organism as a whole.

Other types of RNA have different roles: transfer RNA (tRNA) is responsible for bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a structural component of ribosomes themselves, and cRNA, while not a commonly recognized type in standard biological discussions, generally refers to "complementary RNA," but is not specifically involved in the common cellular processes outlined above.