RNA

Riboucleic Acid, or RNA is a polymer of nucleotides used for a variety of biological functions in living systems. In cells, it is primarily involved the creation of proteins based the genetic code stored in DNA.

Types of RNA

Messenger RNA

In cells, messenger RNA (or mRNA) is transcribed from a DNA template in the cell nucleus. Unnecessary pieces of the strand, called introns, are spliced out before the mRNA goes to the ribosome, where its sequence is read to create a protein.

Ribosomal RNA

Ribosomal RNA (or rRNA) is synthesized in the nucleolus, a small organelle within the nucleus, where it is formed into the main subunits of the ribosome.

Transfer RNA

Amino acids are brought to the ribosome by small, specially-folded strands of RNA, called transfer RNA (or tRNA). A specific amino-acid-carrying tRNA molecule "reads" the code on the mRNA, bringing in the appropriate amino acid.

See Also

• genetics
• DNA