RNA: Definition, Structure, Types & Functions

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Anjali Mishra Content Writer-SME

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RNA is a type of nucleic acids that acts as genetic material like DNA. It is a polymeric molecule that play a significant role in coding, decoding, and gene expression via protein synthesis. The structure of RNA and DNA differs from each other in terms of pyrimidine bases and -OH group.

  • The full form of RNA is ribonucleic acid which is predominantly found in viruses as their genetic material. 
  • Ribonucleic acids are made up of ribonucletides, nitogenous bases, and ribose sugar. 
  • On the basis of structure, it is of four types: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and snRNA. 

RNA Definition

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RNA or Ribonucleic acid is defined as genetic material present in all living organisms. Most RNA is single stranded, albeit some infections have double stranded RNA. The single RNA strand collapses upon itself, either completely or in a certain region. In the collapsed region a larger part of the bases are integral and are joined by hydrogen bonds. This will help to stable the molecule.

  • In nature, nucleic acids are present in two forms: DNA and RNA. Both RNA and DNA act as genetic material in living organisms. 
  • The structure of RNA and DNA differs in terms of nitrogenous bases. Uracil is present in place of thymine in the structure of RNA. 
  • Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil are the four nitrogenous bases present in ribonucleic acids. 


Structure of RNA

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A significant primary component of RNA that recognizes it from DNA is the presence of a hydroxyl bunch at the 2' position of the ribose sugar. The presence of this functional group makes the helix receive the A-structure math as opposed to the B-structure most usually seen in DNA. This outcomes in a profound and thin major groove and a shallow and wide minor groove.

  • A second result of the presence of the 2'- hydroxyl bunch is that in a conformationally adaptable region of a RNA atom, it can artificially assault the contiguous phosphodiester attach to divide the backbone.
  • The conformation of ribose sugar present in the structure of RNA is mostly beta-D-ribose. 
  • The presence of uracil in place of thymine as one of the four nitrogenous bases differentiate the ribonucleic acid structure from di-ribonucleic acid. 

Structure of RNA

Structure of RNA 


Secondary Structure of RNA

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A significant primary component of RNA that recognizes it from DNA is the presence of a hydroxyl bunch at the 2' position of the ribose sugar. The presence of this functional group makes the helix receive the A-structure math as opposed to the B-structure most usually seen in DNA. This outcomes in a profound and thin major groove and a shallow and wide minor groove. A second result of the presence of the 2'- hydroxyl bunch is that in a conformationally adaptable region of a RNA atom (that is, not engaged with development of a double helix), it can artificially assault the contiguous phosphodiester attach to divide the backbone. 

There are more surprising bases in RNA than in DNA. All ordinary RNA chains either start with adenine or guanine: Three sorts of cell RNA have been recognized: 

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) or format RNA,
  • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA),
  • Soluble RNA (snRNA), and
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA) 

Ribosomal and transfer RNA involve about 98% of all RNA. Each of the three types of RNA are made on a DNA format.


Examination with DNA

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The chemical structure of RNA is basically the same as that of DNA, yet contrasts in three essential ways: 

In contrast to double stranded DNA, RNA is a single stranded molecule] in a considerable lot of its natural roles and comprises of a lot more limited chains of nucleotides. However, a single RNA atom can, by correlative base blending, structure intrastrand double helixes, as in tRNA. 

While the sugar-phosphate "backbone" of DNA contains deoxyribose, RNA contains ribose instead. Ribose has a hydroxyl group joined to the pentose ring in the 2' position, though deoxyribose doesn't. The hydroxyl bunches in the ribose backbone make RNA more chemically labile than DNA by bringing down the activation energy of hydrolysis. The integral base to adenine in DNA is thymine, though in RNA, it is uracil, which is an unmethylated form of thymine. 

The mRNA conveys the message from the DNA, which controls the entirety of the cellular activities in a cell. On the off chance that a cell requires a specific protein to be integrated, the gene for this product is "turned on" and the mRNA is orchestrated through the cycle of transcription . The mRNA at that point interact with ribosomes and other cellular machinery to direct the synthesis of the protein it encodes during the process of transcription. mRNA is generally unstable and short lived in the cell, particularly in prokaryotic cells, guaranteeing that proteins are possibly made when required.


Things to Remember

  • The full form of RNA is Ribonucleic acid that plays role in gene expression. 
  • mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and snRNA are the four types of RNA. 
  • The four nitrogenous bases present in RNA are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
  • RNA recieves information from DNA and further synthesize proteins. 
  • They play a significant role in enzymatic tasks our body.

Sample Questions

Ques. What is the main structural difference between RNA and DNA? (2 marks)

Ans. The main difference between RNA and DNA occurs on the basis of their structure. RNA or ribonucleic acid is composed of four nitrogenous bases namely- adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. On the other hand, DNA also contains four nitrogenous bases in which all three are the same as RNA, but in place of uracil, cytosine is present in DNA. 

Ques. What is nucleoside? Name the nucleoside present in RNA. (2 marks)

Ans. Nucleosides are glycosylamines composed of a pentose sugar and nitrogenous base. In simple words it can be written as: 

Nucleosides = Nucleotides–Phosphate group

A ribonucleic acid (RNA) consists of four nucleosides: Adenosine, Guanosine, Uridine, and Cytidine.

Ques. Where is RNA located? (1 mark)

Ans. The location of RNA in a cell is cytoplasm. It is formed by the process of transcription which takes place in the nucleus.

Ques. What is the full form of RNA and DNA? (1 mark)

Ans. The full form of RNA is ribonucleic acid and DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. Both RNA and DNA exist in polymeric form and are composed of nucleotides.

Ques. Who is credited with the discovery of RNA?  (1 mark)

Ans. In 1965, a chemist, Leslie Orgel discovered a polymeric molecule present in the nucleus. Initially, he named it as nuclein but later it was called ribonucleic acid. 

Ques. Why RNA is important in the living cell? (2 marks)

Ans. Ribonucleic acid or RNA is a genetic material like DNA. RNA play a significant role in carrying genetic information which is further utilized for synthesis of proteins. Three types of RNA are present in the living cells.

Ques. Which RNA is considered long type of RNA? (2 marks)

Ans. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is considered long type of RNA as complete nucleotide sequence is present in mRNA. During the process of transcription, mRNA is formed.

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.
    If a natural population of 60 individuals is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for a gene with two alleles B and b, with the gene frequency of allele B of 0.7, the genotype frequency of Bb will be:

      • ( 0.21 )
      • ( 0.42 )
      • ( 0.49 )
      • ( 0.56 )

    • 2.

      Student to attempt either option-(A) or (B):
      (A) Write the features a molecule should have to act as a genetic material. In the light of the above features, evaluate and justify the suitability of the molecule that is preferred as an ideal genetic material. 
      OR 
      (B) Differentiate between the following:

      • [(i)] Polygenic Inheritance and Pleiotropy
      • [(ii)] Dominance, Codominance and Incomplete dominance


        • 3.
          Name any two VDs which might occur in a human female. State any two complications in a female if it is left untreated.


            • 4.

              Study the given below single strand of deoxyribonucleic acid depicted in the form of a “stick” diagram with 5′ – 3′ end directionality, sugars as vertical lines and bases as single letter abbreviations and answer the questions that follow.

              Name the covalent bonds depicted as (a) and (b) in the form of slanting lines in the diagram.
              How many purines are present in the given “stick” diagram?
              Draw the chemical structure of the given polynucleotide chain of DNA.


                • 5.

                  Answer the following questions:

                  [(i)] Explain the structure of a mature embryo sac of a typical flowering plant.

                  [(ii)] How is triple fusion achieved in these plants?

                  OR

                  [(i)] Describe the changes in the ovary and the uterus as induced by the changes in the level of pituitary and ovarian hormones during menstrual cycle in a human female.


                    • 6.

                      Flowering plants with hermaphrodite flowers have developed many reproductive strategies to ensure cross-pollination. Study the given outbreeding devices adopted by certain flowering plants and answer the questions that follow.

                      Note : All plants belong to the same species. No pollen tube growth/inhibition of pollen germination on stigma. Pollen germination on stigma.

                      • [(a)] Name and define the outbreeding device described in the above table.
                      • [(b)] Explain what would have been the disadvantage to the plant in the absence of the given strategy.

                        CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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