Question

What type of RNA has the shortest lifetime in cells?

Short answer

Answer: Messenger RNA (mRNA) typically has the shortest lifetime within cells.

Step-by-step solution

Types of RNA

The main types of RNA include: messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA). There are other non-coding RNA types, but for the purpose of this exercise, we will focus on these three main types.

Compare their lifetimes

Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic information from the DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis. The lifetime of mRNA varies, but it is typically shorter than that of other types of RNA, mainly due to the cellular processes that degrade mRNA. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a structural component of ribosomes and plays a vital role in the translation of mRNA into proteins. rRNA is generally more stable and has a longer lifetime than mRNA. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is responsible for carrying specific amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis, based on the codons present in the mRNA. tRNA molecules are also considered more stable and have a longer lifetime compared to mRNA.

Identify the RNA with the shortest lifetime

Considering the lifetimes of these three main types of RNA (mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA) typically has the shortest lifetime in cells.