RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is made from a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate. RNA is similar to DNA, important differences include:-
RNA is transcribed from DNA by enzymes called RNA polymerases. RNA is central to protein synthesis. Here, a type of RNA called messenger RNA carries information from DNA to structures called ribosomes. These ribosomes are made from proteins and ribosomal RNAs, which come together to form a molecular machine that can read messenger RNAs and translate the information they carry into proteins.
There are three types of RNA and you need to be aware of them:-
- RNA is usually single stranded
- RNA nucleotides contain ribose while DNA contains deoxyribose
- RNA has the base uracil rather than thymine that is present in DNA
- RNA is usually much shorter than DNA
RNA is transcribed from DNA by enzymes called RNA polymerases. RNA is central to protein synthesis. Here, a type of RNA called messenger RNA carries information from DNA to structures called ribosomes. These ribosomes are made from proteins and ribosomal RNAs, which come together to form a molecular machine that can read messenger RNAs and translate the information they carry into proteins.
There are three types of RNA and you need to be aware of them:-
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the RNA that carries information from DNA from the nucleus to the ribosomes.
- Transfer RNA (tRNA) bring amino acids to the ribosome during translation.
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is what ribosomes are made up of and provides a place for mRNA and tRNA to attach during translation.
