Classify the characteristics of the two types of RNAs that can regulate gene expression. Characteristics of Different Types of RNAs that Regulate Gene Expression

Characteristics of Different Types of RNAs that Regulate Gene Expression

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is essential for gene expression and regulation. It can be divided into two distinct types: messenger RNA (mRNA) and non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Each type of RNA has its own unique characteristics that make it well-suited for its role in gene expression. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a type of RNA transcribed from DNA and is responsible for transporting genetic information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. mRNA is single-stranded, relatively short, and highly unstable. It is quickly degraded by RNase enzymes, making its half-life very short (Schlief et al., 2021). mRNA molecules are then translated into proteins, which are responsible for the biological functions of an organism.
Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a type of RNA that does not encode any proteins. This type of RNA falls into two categories: microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). miRNA is a short, single-stranded RNA molecule that binds to mRNA and inhibits its translation into proteins (Liu et al., 2019). lncRNA is a longer, double-stranded RNA molecule that can influence gene expression or act as a transcriptional regulator (Liu et al., 2016). Cont…