Final answer:
In RNA interference, siRNA is the molecule that participates in the process by binding to mRNA and preventing protein synthesis, acting as a gene silencing mechanism. siRNA's function differs from tRNA, rRNA, snRNA, and dsDNA, with rRNA being notable for its catalytic abilities in protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
RNA Interference and Small Interfering RNA (siRNA)
The molecule that participates in RNA interference (RNAi) among the options provided is siRNA (Small Interfering RNA). siRNA is essential for the RNAi process in which it binds to mRNA, effectively preventing the translation and synthesis of proteins. This is critical for gene silencing, and in protecting cells from viral invasions by targeting and degrading foreign RNA sequences.
On the other hand, tRNA is involved in translating the mRNA into proteins by bringing amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis. rRNA is a component of ribosomes and helps catalyze the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids, while snRNA plays a role in splicing mRNA. Finally, dsDNA is not an RNA molecule but refers to double-stranded DNA.
To answer the secondary question, the types of RNA known for its catalytic abilities is rRNA, part of the ribosome's structure that catalyzes peptide bond formation during the process of protein synthesis.