Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Types of RNA

GOB Chemistry

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Types of RNA

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2:02 minutes

Problem 51

Textbook Question

Rank the following in order of size: tRNA, DNA, mRNA.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the biological molecules involved: tRNA (transfer RNA), DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), and mRNA (messenger RNA). These molecules differ in size and function within the cell.

Recall that DNA is typically the largest molecule among the three. It contains the genetic blueprint for an organism and is composed of long chains of nucleotides organized into chromosomes.

Consider mRNA, which is synthesized from DNA during transcription. mRNA is smaller than DNA because it represents only a specific segment of the genetic code needed for protein synthesis.

Evaluate tRNA, which is the smallest of the three. tRNA molecules are compact and specialized for transferring amino acids during translation, making them significantly smaller than both DNA and mRNA.

Rank the molecules in order of size based on the above information: DNA (largest), mRNA (intermediate), tRNA (smallest).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

tRNA (Transfer RNA)

tRNA is a small RNA molecule, typically about 76 to 90 nucleotides long, that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis. It carries amino acids to the ribosome, where proteins are assembled, and has an anticodon that pairs with the corresponding codon on mRNA. Its relatively small size compared to other RNA and DNA types makes it the shortest among the three.

mRNA (Messenger RNA)

mRNA is a single-stranded RNA molecule that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. It is generally longer than tRNA, ranging from hundreds to thousands of nucleotides, depending on the gene being expressed. mRNA serves as a template for translation, making it larger than tRNA but smaller than DNA.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

DNA is a double-stranded molecule that contains the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. It is composed of long chains of nucleotides, with a typical length of millions of base pairs, making it the largest of the three types of nucleic acids. DNA's structure allows it to store and transmit genetic information, which is essential for growth, development, and reproduction.