: any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities compare messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

Examples of RNA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Phosphorus is the structural backbone of the phosphate nucleotides in DNA and RNA, Natalie Hinkel, a planetary astrophysicist at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, told me via email. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 Recent studies have helped shed light on the debate, with many using single-cell RNA sequencing and other advanced technologies to look at parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025 China's New Virus Outbreak Explained COVID-19 PCR tests are a highly accurate and widely used method for detecting active COVID-19 infections, and work by identifying and amplifying the genetic material (RNA) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025 And many emit tiny bubbles known as vesicles that contain DNA, RNA or other chemicals, like messages in a bottle for whatever cell happens to intercept them. Veronique Greenwood, Quanta Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for RNA 

Word History

Etymology

ribonucleic acid

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of RNA was in 1942

Dictionary Entries Near RNA

Cite this Entry

“RNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RNA. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

: any of various nucleic acids that are typically found in the cytoplasm of cells, are usually composed of a single chain of nucleotides, differ from DNA in containing ribose as the five-carbon sugar instead of deoxyribose, and that function mostly in protein synthesis

called also ribonucleic acid

compare messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

Medical Definition

: any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities

called also ribonucleic acid

see messenger rna, ribosomal rna, transfer rna

More from Merriam-Webster on RNA

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