ribonucleic acid (RNA) /rī′bōno̅o̅klē″ik/ [ribose + L, nucleus, nut kernel, acidus, sour] , a nucleic acid, found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells, that plays several roles in the translation of the genetic code and the assembly of proteins. Kinds include messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA. See also deoxyribonucleic acid.
