Question

Sketch and explain the various types of RNA.

Answer 1

RNA is a single-stranded nucleic acid made up of subunits called ribonucleotides. Each ribonucleotide consists of a ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. There are four types of bases present in RNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. Unlike DNA, RNA can be found inside both the cell nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Depending on their specific roles in the cell, RNA molecules are divided into three main functional types: mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA.

                     (a) mRNA

mRNA is called messenger RNA because it carries the message (information) from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm to make proteins.

    (b) rRNA

rRNA is a part of the ribosome itself and it helps the cell in making proteins.

(c) tRNA

tRNA is present in the cytoplasm. It reads the message on mRNA and brings the right amino acid to the ribosomes for protein synthesis.