Image for Ribosomal RNA

Ribosomal RNA

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a vital component of ribosomes, the cellular structures responsible for protein production. Think of rRNA as both a structural scaffold and an active participant in assembling amino acids into proteins. It helps maintain the ribosome's shape and directly interacts with messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) to ensure the correct sequence of amino acids is linked together. Without rRNA, ribosomes cannot function properly, and cells would be unable to produce the proteins necessary for growth, repair, and other vital processes.