RNA

A single-stranded relative of DNA. Messenger RNA carries a gene's instructions to ribosomes, and other RNAs help build proteins and control genes.Source: NHGRI Source: MedlinePlus Source: Fire et al., 1998

Also called ribonucleic acid.

Level of life

RNA and the 6 concepts it links to directly. Each link is described below.

How RNA connects

RNA is transcribed from

Level of life
Gene
A basic unit of heredity: a stretch of DNA with instructions for a product such as a protein or a functional RNA.
Open in DNA & Genetics Lab

RNA is translated into

Level of life
Protein
A chain of amino acids folded into a working shape. Proteins act as enzymes, structures, signals and transporters.

RNA includes the example

Molecule
Messenger RNA
A copy of a gene's instructions that carries them from DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are made.
Open in DNA & Genetics Lab

RNA is used by

Process
RNA interference
Double-stranded RNA silences genes whose sequence matches it.
Technology or method
CRISPR
A bacterial immune system that researchers adapted into a programmable tool for cutting chosen DNA sequences.
Open in Biotech Lab

RNA is related to

Organism or group
Virus
Nucleic acid in a protein coat. A virus cannot copy itself alone: it must infect a cell and use the cell's machinery.
Open in Microbe Lab

Studied in

Molecular Biology

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Sources & further reading

The explanations on this page are our own summaries of these sources. Follow a link to read the original; if anything here disagrees with it, the original wins. How we choose and check sources.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) (opens the original in a new tab)
National Human Genome Research Institute. Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms. National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH.
ReferenceGovernment sourceEducational
- genome.gov (Open the original source, opens in a new tab)
How do genes direct the production of proteins? (opens the original in a new tab)
MedlinePlus Genetics. MedlinePlus Genetics. U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH.
ReferenceGovernment sourceEducational
- medlineplus.gov (Open the original source, opens in a new tab)
Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans (opens the original in a new tab)
Fire A, Xu S, Montgomery MK, et al. (1998). Nature 391:806-811.
Discovery of RNA interference.
Peer-reviewedPrimary research
- DOI 10.1038/35888 (Open the publisher's version via its DOI, opens in a new tab)
- PMID 9486653 (Open the PubMed record, opens in a new tab)