What is RNA?
RNA is ribonucleic acid, a cellular molecule with roles in information transfer, protein production and regulation.
How it works and what the evidence shows
Core idea RNA nucleotides contain ribose and use uracil as a base. Most RNA is single-stranded. Some genes are transcribed into messenger RNA, but many RNA molecules do not encode proteins. Evidence and research mRNA carries protein instructions, tRNA delivers amino acids to ribosomes, and rRNA is a key ribosome component. Regulatory RNAs can affect when and how strongly genes work.
Uses and limitations
Why it matters RNA research helps explain cell function, viral genomes and gene expression. RNA measurements help identify active genes in a sample. Common misunderstandings Calling every RNA a temporary copy of DNA is incomplete. RNA types differ in structure, stability and role.