RNA Nucleic acid structure and function

• What is the monomer of RNA?

  Nucleotide
• The nucleotide in RNA contains a ribose sugar.
• Ribose is a pentose sugar because it has five carbon atoms.
• How many carbons does ribose have?

  5
• The nitrogenous bases in RNA are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
• Uracil replaces thymine in RNA.
• What is the function of RNA in general?

  Copy and transfer genetic information
• One type of RNA combines with proteins to create ribosomes.
• What are the three types of RNA?

  mRNA, tRNA, rRNA
• mRNA is a copy of one gene in DNA.
• mRNA is shorter than DNA because it copies only one gene.
• Why is mRNA shorter than DNA?

  Copies one gene
• mRNA leaves the nucleus to attach to ribosomes for protein synthesis.
• Why is mRNA short-lived?

  Enzymes can degrade it
• Three bases on mRNA code for one specific amino acid.
• Three bases on mRNA that code for one amino acid are called a codon.
• Where is tRNA found in the cell?

  Cytoplasm
• tRNA has a cloverleaf shape held together by hydrogen bonds.
• Match the RNA type with its function:

  mRNA ↔️ Copies a gene from DNA

  tRNA ↔️ Transfers amino acids

  rRNA ↔️ Combines with protein to form ribosomes
• The amino acid attachment site on tRNA is located at the top of the cloverleaf.
• tRNA brings specific amino acids to mRNA based on complementary base pairing.
• What is the anticodon on tRNA complementary to?

  Codon on mRNA
• Ribosomal RNA combines with protein to form ribosomes.
• What is the primary function of rRNA?

  Forms ribosomes
• DNA contains thymine, whereas RNA contains uracil.
• DNA contains the pentose sugar deoxyribose.
• What is the pentose sugar in RNA?

  Ribose
• DNA is much longer than RNA because it contains all of a person's genes.
• How does mRNA compare in length to DNA?

  Shorter
• tRNA is shorter than mRNA.