What are the four nitrogenous bases found in RNA? a. cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil (C, G, T, U) b. adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine (A, C, G, T) c. adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil (A, C, G, U) d. alanine, cysteine, glycine, threonine (A, C, G, T)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the correct nitrogenous bases that are components of RNA.
2. Eliminate options that include thymine (T) as it is a DNA base, not found in RNA.
3. Eliminate options that include amino acids (alanine, cysteine, glycine, threonine) as they are not nitrogenous bases.
4. Recognize that uracil (U) replaces thymine in RNA, indicating the presence of adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U) in RNA.
5. Select the option that lists all and only the bases found in RNA: adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil (A, C, G, U).

Key Concepts

Nitrogenous Bases

Nitrogenous bases are organic molecules that contain nitrogen and are fundamental components of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. In RNA, the four nitrogenous bases are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U). These bases pair with each other to form the genetic code, with adenine pairing with uracil in RNA, unlike DNA where adenine pairs with thymine.

RNA Structure

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a single-stranded molecule that plays a crucial role in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. Unlike DNA, which contains thymine, RNA contains uracil as one of its nitrogenous bases. The structure of RNA allows it to perform various functions, including serving as a template for protein synthesis during translation.

Base Pairing Rules

Base pairing rules dictate how nitrogenous bases pair with each other in nucleic acids. In RNA, adenine pairs with uracil, while cytosine pairs with guanine. Understanding these pairing rules is essential for grasping how genetic information is stored and transmitted, as they determine the complementary relationships between bases in the RNA sequence.