Ribonucleic acid

Full definition of ribonucleic acid

Noun

1. (biochemistry) A derivative of DNA having ribose in place of deoxyribose, and uracil in place of thymine; its primary function is in the transcription of genetic material and subsequent synthesis of protein.

Synonyms

• ribose nucleic acid

Derived terms

• ribozyme

Related terms

• nucleic acid
• ribonucleate
• deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• peptide nucleic acid (PNA)
• threose nucleic acid (TNA)
• glycol nucleic acid (GNA)