What are the three types of RNA?
RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a vital macromolecule for the synthesis of proteins in cells.
RNA is similar to DNA, but it has unique functional and structural characteristics that
enable it to perform critical cellular functions. RNA is a long, single-stranded chain of
nucleotides consisting of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate
group. RNA is of three types: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and
ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
mRNA serves as the template for protein synthesis, transferring genetic information
from the DNA within a cell to ribosomes, which assemble amino acids into proteins.
tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, linking amino
acids together via peptide bonds. On the other hand, rRNA assembles with
ribosomal proteins to form ribosomes, which are the site of protein synthesis.
The three types of RNA are essential for protein synthesis, which is critical in the
growth and development of living organisms. Any defects in RNA synthesis or
function can have severe biological consequences, such as genetic disorders and
diseases. Hence, the study of RNA has become a prominent field in molecular
biology.
References:
1. Watson, J. D., Baker, T. A., Bell, S. P., Gann, A., Levine, M., & Losick, R. (2013).
Molecular biology of the gene. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
2. Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2007). Molecular
biology of the cell. Garland Science.