Ribonucleic acid

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule found in living cells that plays a crucial role in translating genetic information into functional proteins. It is similar to DNA but typically single-stranded and contains a different sugar and one of four nitrogen bases. RNA acts as a messenger, carrying instructions from DNA in the cell's nucleus to the protein-making machinery in the cytoplasm. There are different types of RNA that help in various stages of gene expression, including messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Together, they are essential for the process of creating the proteins that sustain life.