A lot of people quickly learned about RNA when an RNA virus started the COVID-19 global pandemic. In humans, there are many forms of RNA, many of which are absolutely essential to life. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is generated from active genes, and used in cells to create proteins, control the expression of other genes, among an array of other functions. The various types of cells and tissues in the body are created and maintained through the expression of different genes, so the RNA that is present in a cell can tell us a lot about it.
Much of the genome is transcribed into RNA, even though not even two percent of the human genome encodes for proteins. There are small and long non-coding RNAs, which carry out regulatory or maintenance functions in the cell. Now that the human genome has been totally sequenced, researchers are turning their attention to the vast array of RNA molecules that are present in cells: the RNome, as well as their modifications. So far, 170 different types of RNA modifications have been identified, said Peter Dedon, MD, PhD, a Professor at MIT. RNA molecules can also interact with each other, DNA, or proteins.
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