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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between RNA and mRNA?

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RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid composed of ribose, uracil, and phosphate. There are three main types of RNA: mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA, and each type has a specific function in the cell. The main differences between RNA and mRNA are as follows:

  1. Function: RNA mediates various cellular processes, including cell signaling and protein expression, while mRNA is a specific type of RNA that acts as a messenger between DNA and ribosomes during protein synthesis.
  2. Structure: RNA has various structures, while mRNA has a linear structure.
  3. Coding Regions: mRNA contains only protein-coding regions (exons) and encodes for a specific amino acid sequence of a protein, whereas RNA contains both coding and noncoding regions.

In summary, RNA is a nucleic acid involved in various cellular processes, and mRNA is a specific type of RNA that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis by carrying genetic information from DNA to ribosomes.

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  • What is the Difference Between RNA and mRNA?
  • Comparative Table: RNA vs mRNA

    • Comparative Table: RNA vs mRNA

    Here is a table summarizing the differences between RNA and mRNA:

    Feature RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) mRNA (Messenger RNA)
    Type Nucleic acid One of the three types of RNA
    Structure Linear and unbranched Linear structure, but the 5' end is capped with 7-methylguanosine and the 3' end is polyadenylated (a poly-A tail)
    Function Responsible for encoding, transmitting, and expressing genetic information into proteins Provides a template for protein synthesis and carries the genetic code to produce a protein
    Length Varies, but typically much shorter than DNA In mammals, mRNAs are 300 to 12000 nucleotides long
    Sugar Contains ribose sugar molecules No difference from RNA in sugar content
    Bases Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), and Uracil (U) Shares Adenine (A), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C) with DNA, but uses Uracil (U) instead of Thymine (T)

    Please note that the term "mRNA" is a specific type of RNA, so the two terms are not mutually exclusive. RNA is a broader term that includes mRNA, tRNA (transfer RNA), and rRNA (ribosomal RNA).

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.