chapter 12 dna and rna - Chapters
For decades, the central dogma of molecular biology—DNA makes RNA, RNA makes protein, protein makes phenotype—was the guiding framework for understanding inheritance and disease. This model explained ... Scientific American: How RNA Unseated DNA as the Most Important Molecule in Your Body How RNA Unseated DNA as the Most Important Molecule in Your Body The Conversation: RNA has newly identified role: Repairing serious DNA damage to maintain the genome RNA has newly identified role: Repairing serious DNA damage to maintain the genome Science Daily: Textbooks need to be rewritten: RNA, not DNA, is the main cause of acute sunburn Sunburn has traditionally been attributed to UV-induced DNA damage.
Understanding the Context
However, a new study reveals that RNA, another vital cellular molecule, plays a major role in triggering acute sunburn reactions. Textbooks need to be rewritten: RNA, not DNA, is the main cause of acute sunburn DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are nucleic acids. Alongside proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides), nucleic acids are one of the four major types of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life. There are two types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
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Key Insights
Each of these molecules has a unique structure that enables it to fulfill specific functions within the cell. Understanding the structure of DNA and RNA is key to grasping how genetic information is encoded, replicated, and expressed within an organism. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of proteins (messenger RNA). RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are nucleic acids.