Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid that is similar, but not identical, to a single strand of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In RNA, the base uracil is substituted for the base thymine in the genetic code. While DNA and RNA are very similar in their composition, RNA has a much more versatile role. It both conveys genetic information and catalyzes reactions.

There are five major types of RNA that are found in eukaryotic cells. The types are known as heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and small nuclear RNA. Depending on the type of RNA, it can function as a carrier for genetic information, a catalyst for biochemical reactions, an adapter molecule in protein synthesis, and a structural molecule in cell organelles.

RNA functions principally to convey the genetic information contained in DNA into the gene product, a protein...