ribonucleic acid

/ˈraɪboʊnuˈkliɪk ˌæsəd/

Definitions of ribonucleic acid

1. noun

   (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell; associated with the transmission of information from DNA to the cytoplasm
   “ribonucleic acid is the genetic material of some viruses”

   synonyms: RNA

   types:

   informational RNA, mRNA, messenger RNA, template RNA

   the template for protein synthesis; the form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein synthesis in the cell

   nRNA, nuclear RNA

   ribonucleic acid found in the nucleolus of the cell

   acceptor RNA, soluble RNA, tRNA, transfer RNA

   RNA molecules present in the cell (in at least 20 varieties, each variety capable of combining with a specific amino acid) that attach the correct amino acid to the protein chain that is being synthesized at the ribosome of the cell (according to directions coded in the mRNA)

   type of:

   polymer

   a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers