: 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 These Alu elements are repetitive DNA sequences that can create bits of RNA that can then change back to DNA. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024 Distinguished Professor Tom Cech, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discoveries on RNA, will describe how the COVID-19 pandemic put the wonders of RNA science into the public consciousness. Philip Distefano, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2024 These include protein synthesis, blood pressure and blood glucose regulation, muscle and nerve function, and DNA and RNA synthesis. Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2024 It’s found in molecules such as RNA and DNA as well as ATP, a molecule necessary for energy production in all life forms. Ayurella Horn-Muller, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024 Just as those machines take plastic molecules and use them to construct objects of any shape, ribosomes take genetic information from RNA and use it to crank out proteins. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Genes are routinely flanked by pieces of DNA that don’t encode RNA or protein but have regulatory functions. Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 Most often, people shed viral RNA in their stool after or during a COVID infection, said John Sellick, DO, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo. Julia Landwehr, Health, 6 Feb. 2024 The study, appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, found genetic material (RNA) and proteins from EV-D68 in motor neurons in the spinal cord of a 5-year-old boy who tragically died of an AFM-like illness in 2008. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'RNA.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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