Ribonucleic acid

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-024295",
  "term": "Ribonucleic acid",
  "field": "Environment",
  "term_source": "Ribonucleic Acid",
  "definition": "1. A molecule that carries the genetic message from DNA to a cellular protein-producing mechanism.\n\n2. A polymeric constituent of all living cells and many viruses, consisting of a long, usually single-stranded chain of alternating phosphate and ribose units with the bases adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil bonded to the ribose. The structure and base sequence of RNA are determinants of protein synthesis and the transmission of genetic information.\n\n3. A chemical found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells; it plays an important role in protein synthesis and other chemical activities of the cell. The structure of RNA is similar to that of DNA. There are several classes of RNA molecules, including messenger RNA, transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, and other small RNAs, each serving a different purpose.\n\n4. One of the two types of nucleic acids found in all cells. The other is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). RNA transmits genetic information from DNA to proteins produced by the cell.\n\n5. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule similar to DNA. Unlike DNA, RNA is single-stranded. An RNA strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (ribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases--adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), or guanine (G). Different types of RNA exist in the cell: messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA). More recently, some small RNAs have been found to be involved in regulating gene expression.",
  "abbreviation": "RNA",
  "subject": "Biological substances",
  "references": [
    "Terms of Environment",
    "EPA Quality Assurance/Quality Control Guidance for Laboratories Performing PCR Analyses on Environmental Samples Glossary at http://www.epa.gov/nerlcwww/qa_qc_pcr10_04.pdf",
    "Glossary: Potential Implications of Genomics for Regulatory and Risk Assessment Applications at EPA: EPA Science Policy Council at http://www.epa.gov/osa/pdfs/EPA-Genomics-White-Paper.pdf. Quotation from U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Human Genome Project Information, Genome Glossary",
    "NIH Genetics Home Reference Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/ribonucleic-acid/"
}