Final answer:
RNA consists of single strands of ribonucleotides, each containing ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases including uracil instead of thymine. RNA is essential for protein synthesis with three main types: mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA. RNA's structure facilitates temporary functions and allows for intramolecular base pairing, creating complex three-dimensional shapes for biological activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Structure of Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
The structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a fundamental concept in biology. RNA is typically single stranded and is composed of ribonucleotides linked together by phosphodiester bonds. Each ribonucleotide consists of a ribose sugar, one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine — A, uracil — U, guanine — G, or cytosine — C), and a phosphate group. Unlike DNA, RNA contains uracil instead of thymine and the sugar in RNA nucleotides is ribose, which has a hydroxyl group in the 2' position that DNA lacks. This relative instability of RNA molecules makes them suitable for their temporary functions in the cell, particularly in protein synthesis and regulation.
There are three main types of RNA: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA), all of which play critical roles in the process of translating genetic information into proteins. Structural complexity in RNA arises from intramolecular base pairing, which can create complex three-dimensional shapes essential to their biological function. Although RNA molecules are shorter than DNA, they are versatile in their roles and have structures that allow them to catalyze chemical reactions, similar to proteins enzymes.