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TOPICS

RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule similar to DNA. Unlike DNA, RNA is single-stranded. An RNA strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (ribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases--adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), or guanine (G). Different types of RNA exist in the cell: messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA). More recently, some small RNAs have been found to be involved in regulating gene expression.

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Images and animations are courtesy of the National Human Genome Research Institute's Talking Glossary (http://www.genome.gov/glossary/).

Materials for RNA

Animation

RNA Folding

Description: An animation of how RNA forms protein-like structures

Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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URL: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/rna-folding

RNA Interface

Description: An animation of RNA

Source: Nature Publishing
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URL: http://www.nature.com/focus/rnai/animations/animation/animation.htm

Articles/Research

Remarkable RNAs

Description: An article reviewing the different types of RNA

Source: National Institute of General Medical Sciences
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URL: http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/insidelifescience/remarkable-rnas.html

RNA Functions

Description: An article on the different types of RNA and the function of each type

Source: Nature Education
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URL: http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/rna-functions-352

The New Genetics - RNA and DNA Revealed

Description: Information from a science education booklet explaining microRNAs, RNAi, epigenetics, telomeres, mtDNA, and recombinant DNA

Source: National Institute of General Medical Sciences
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URL: http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/thenewgenetics/chapter2.html

Games

EteRNA

Description: A video game that challenges players to design new ways to fold RNA molecules

Source: Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University
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URL: http://eterna.cmu.edu/eterna_page.php?page=me_tab

Interactive Tutorials

Click and Learn App

Description: Interactively explore topics in biology with the Click and Learn app. Each module features supporting videos and animations (Internet connection required). Learn about topics in evolution, neurobiology, infectious diseases, bioinformatics, stem cells, RNA, obesity, cancer, and genomics.

Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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URL: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/click-and-learn-app

DNA Sequence Editor Web App

Description: DNA Sequence Editor is a free web tool to analyze and edit your DNA sequence. Enter your DNA sequence and you can get the reverse, complementary or transcription sequence of your DNA. It can also translate your DNA sequence into possible amino acid sequences. It also help you to predict the DNA enzyme digestion result. Just select an enzyme from the list and you can get the size and sequence of each restricted DNA fragment. It is a useful web tool for molecular biology students and professionals. It is a great help for your molecular cloning work.