RNA

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) is of a similar structure to DNA, with several notable differences :

∙    RNA has the sugar ribose, as opposed to deoxyribose

∙    RNA consists of a single chain, rather than a double strand

∙    The nucleotides contain the pyrimidine uracil rather than thymine (Uracil still binds only to adenine)

RNA Pyrimidines

There are three major types of RNA :

∙    Messenger RNA (mRNA) : translates the genetic code from DNA, takes it to the ribosomes

∙    Transport RNA (tRNA) : associated with individual amino acids - assembles proteins at ribosomes

∙    Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) : makes up ribosomes

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