RNA, or ribonucleic acid, plays a key role in turning the instructions held in the DNA of your genome into functional proteins in your cells. RNA is closely related to DNA, but it contains a different sugar – ribose – and the base uracil (U) replaces thymine (T) . RNA has three main roles in the cell:
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Messenger RNA (mRNA): It carries the instructions from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes where proteins are made in the cytoplasm of the cell.
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Transfer RNA (tRNA): It picks up specific amino acids from the cytoplasm of the cell and delivers them to the ribosomes where protein synthesis takes place.
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Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): It makes up around 50% of the structure of the ribosomes.
The primary function of RNA is to create proteins via translation. RNA carries genetic information that is translated by ribosomes into various proteins necessary for cellular processes. RNA also serves as the primary genetic material for viruses. Other functions include RNA editing, gene regulation, and RNA interference. Specific RNA molecules also regulate gene expression and have the potential to serve as therapeutic agents in human diseases.
