RNA

• RNA


  A polymer made up of nucleotides
• Nucleotide


  The monomer that RNA is made up of, containing a ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
• Ribose sugar


  • A pentose sugar with 5 carbon atoms
• Nitrogenous bases in RNA


  • Adenine
  • Guanine
  • Cytosine
  • Uracil
• RNA is similar in structure to DNA, but has ribose instead of deoxyribose, and uracil instead of thymine
• Function of RNA


  To copy and transfer genetic information, and to combine with proteins to create ribosomes
• Types of RNA


  • mRNA
  • tRNA
  • rRNA
• mRNA


  A copy of one gene in DNA, used to code for a specific protein
• mRNA


  • Short-lived, single-stranded, 3 bases code for 1 amino acid
• tRNA


  Transfers amino acids to the ribosome, has a cloverleaf shape held by hydrogen bonds
• rRNA


  Combines with proteins to form ribosomes
• Differences between DNA and RNA monomers


  • DNA has thymine, RNA has uracil
  • DNA has deoxyribose, RNA has ribose
• Differences between DNA and RNA polymers


  • DNA is much longer, containing all genes
  • RNA is shorter, only a copy of one gene
  • DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded