RNA

• Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) consists of nucleotides and the nitrogenous bases found in RNA are adenine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine.
• There are three types of RNA and they perform different functions in different places in a cell.
• Messenger RNA carries the code for protein synthesis from DNA to the ribosome and is located in the nucleus but then enters the cytoplasm where it attaches to ribosomes.
• Ribosomal RNA forms ribosomes which are the site of protein synthesis and is located in the ribosomes in the cytoplasm of the cell.
• Transfer RNA brings amino acids to the ribosome to form the protein and is found freely in the cytoplasm of the cell.
• Like DNA, RNA also consists of monomers (nucleotides) which link to form longer chains (polymers).
• RNA is a single-stranded structure which is not coiled.
• The sugar in RNA is ribose and is attached to a nitrogenous base.
• The phosphate and sugar molecules are attached to one another alternately to form the chains.
• The structure of RNA is illustrated below.
• The three types of RNA are very important to the process of protein synthesis, with each type playing a unique role.
• DNA and RNA are similar in some aspects, containing sugar alternating with phosphate, containing the nitrogenous bases adenine, guanine, and cytosine, and playing a role in protein synthesis.
• DNA and RNA also have significant differences, with DNA containing deoxyribose sugar and RNA containing ribose sugar.
• DNA replication is the process through which DNA makes an identical copy of itself, occurring during interphase of the cell cycle in the nucleus.
• DNA replication involves the unwinding of the DNA double helix, breaking of weak hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases, separation of the DNA strands, and building of a DNA strand onto each of the original DNA strands, attaching their complementary nitrogenous bases.
• Errors that occur during DNA replication may sometimes lead to mutations, a change in the nitrogenous base sequence.