RNA, or Ribonucleic Acid, is an essential biological macromolecule that takes part in different cellular processes, mainly protein synthesis and gene control. RNA is made up of ribonucleotides that consist of a ribose sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases (adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine). While DNA is mostly double-stranded, RNA tends to be single-stranded and performs various roles in gene expression.
There are a number of different RNA species, such as messenger RNA (mRNA), which transports genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes for protein synthesis; ribosomal RNA (rRNA), which constitutes the structural and functional parts of the ribosomes; and transfer RNA (tRNA), which aids in the translation of genetic code into amino acids. RNA also plays a part in the regulation of gene expression and enzyme function in certain viruses, e.g., retroviruses. Its function in current medicine, including RNA vaccines such as mRNA vaccines, underscores its relevance in gene studies and biotechnology.