ribonucleic acid

(RY-boh-noo-KLAY-ik A-sid) One of the two types of nucleic acids found in all cells. In the cell, ribonucleic acid is made from DNA (the other type of nucleic acid), and proteins are made from ribonucleic acid. Also called RNA.

(Abbreviation: RNA ). An organic acid polymer composed of adenosine, guanosine, cytidine and uridine ribonucleotides . The genetic material of some viruses, but more generally is the molecule, derived from DNA by transcription, that either carries information (messenger RNA ), provides sub-cellular structure (ribosomal RNA ), transports amino acids (transfer RNA ), or facilitates the biochemical modification of itself or other RNA molecules.