Which type of RNA makes up the structure of the ribosome?

Which type of RNA makes up the structure of the ribosome?

• A. mRNA
• B. tRNA
• C. rRNA
• D. siRNA

Answer: (C)

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms the structural and catalytic core of the ribosome. The ribosome is built from rRNA molecules bound to proteins, and the rRNA scaffolds fold into shapes that position mRNA and tRNA for translation and, in many ribosomes, catalyze the peptide bond formation that links amino acids into a protein. Messenger RNA carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome as the template for protein synthesis, so it’s not part of the ribosome’s structure. Transfer RNA delivers specific amino acids by matching codons on the mRNA with anticodons, but it’s not the ribosome’s structural component. Small interfering RNA is involved in gene silencing and has no role in ribosome construction or function. Therefore, rRNA is the RNA that makes up the ribosome.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms the structural and catalytic core of the ribosome. The ribosome is built from rRNA molecules bound to proteins, and the rRNA scaffolds fold into shapes that position mRNA and tRNA for translation and, in many ribosomes, catalyze the peptide bond formation that links amino acids into a protein. Messenger RNA carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome as the template for protein synthesis, so it’s not part of the ribosome’s structure. Transfer RNA delivers specific amino acids by matching codons on the mRNA with anticodons, but it’s not the ribosome’s structural component. Small interfering RNA is involved in gene silencing and has no role in ribosome construction or function. Therefore, rRNA is the RNA that makes up the ribosome.