[Abbr. of ribonucleic acid ]
A nucleic acid that controls protein synthesis in all living cells and is the sole nucleic acid in certain viruses. It differs from DNA in that its sugar is ribose rather than deoxyribose, and its pyrimidine base is uracil rather than thymine. RNA occurs in several forms that are determined by the number of nucleotides.
SEE: DNA

guide RNA

ABBR: gRNA An RNA molecule that ushers endonucleases to an aberrant nucleotide sequence in messenger RNA or DNA. Specially-designed gRNAs can be used to edit nucleic acid sequences, i.e., to alter or induce genetic mutations.

HIV RNA

The genetic material of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Its quantity in the bloodstream correlates with the severity and prognosis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Drug regimens for AIDS, esp. those that use a combination of protease inhibitors and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, aim to decrease the amount of HIV RNA in the blood to undetectable levels.

messenger RNA

ABBR: mRNA It carries the code for specific amino acid sequences from the DNA to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis.

ribosomal RNA

ABBR: rRNA It exists within the ribosomes and assists in protein synthesis.

snRNA

SEE: snRNA

transfer RNA

ABBR: tRNA It carries the amino acid groups to the ribosome for protein synthesis.