What is the term for the strand of DNA that has the same sequence as the mRNA?

The term for the strand of DNA that has the same sequence as the mRNA is known as the coding or sense strand. This strand serves as the template for transcription, where RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA by adding complementary RNA nucleotides. Since RNA is synthesized from the DNA coding strand, the sequence of the mRNA is identical to that of the coding strand, with the exception that thymine (T) in DNA is replaced by uracil (U) in RNA.

This name emphasizes the strand's role in the process of gene expression, as it contains the sequence that typically corresponds to the final protein product. The use of "sense" refers to the functionality of the strand that encodes a specific protein, while the term "coding" clearly indicates its role in protein synthesis. Understanding this concept is fundamental to molecular biology, as it forms the basis for how genetic information is translated into functional proteins through the processes of transcription and translation.