• Question: What is RNA

    Asked by justcallmex to Andrew, Daniel, Hayley, Natalia, Peta on 23 Nov 2011.
    • Photo: Daniel Scully

      Daniel Scully answered on 22 Nov 2011:

      RNA is very similar to DNA, with a couple of differences: The chemical compositions have some differences and while DNA is made up of two strands (double stranded) which form a double-helix, there is only one strand making up RNA.

    • Photo: Peta Foster

      Peta Foster answered on 22 Nov 2011:

      The primary function of RNA as i know it is as messenger RNA which is often shortened to mRNA. This is used to take instruction from DNA over to a ribosome (which is a bit protein making machine in the cell) and hand over the info…

      … the process by which mRNA does this is a bit fuzzy in my head but i guess it would have to unwind the DNA and then record the information in it’s own structure and then wizz over to the ribosome and hand over the instructions…

      … if you wanted you could think of RNA as the friend reading out the instructions to the person building some flat-packed furniture. 😀

      Hope this helps

    • Photo: Hayley Smith

      Hayley Smith answered on 23 Nov 2011:

      I don’t think there’s anything to add there, great explanations already given!
      And the analogy to flat packed furniture is great!

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