• Question: Am i correct i thinking that RNA is used in the natural world for cells to divide? And if so could you explain how it works? I kind of have a vague understanding but id like to know more.

    Asked by watsonjc06 to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 28 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Rebecca Lacey

      Rebecca Lacey answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      Yes you are right that RNA is used for cells to divide. See this cool video on youtube for a nice illustration of how this works – it is complicated to describe in text so a video should be better:

      There are 3 main types of RNA:

      1. mRNA (messenger RNA) – this carries information from the DNA in the cell to the ribosome (where the protein synthesis occurs)
      2. tRNA (transfer RNA) – this adds amino acids (building blocks of proteins) to a protein
      3. rRNA (ribosomal RNA) – this helps the ribosomes to work in protein transcription

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