What Is the Most Abundant Form of RNA?

Most Common RNA in a Cell

Ribosomal RNA or rRNA is the most abundant form of RNA.
Ribosomal RNA or rRNA is the most abundant form of RNA.

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By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on May 08, 2019

There are three main types of RNA: tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA. The most abundant form of RNA is rRNA or ribosomal RNA because it's responsible for coding and producing all of the proteins in cells. rRNA is found in the cytoplasm of cells and is associated with ribosomes. rRNA takes the coded information delivered from the nucleus by mRNA and translates it so that proteins can be produced and modified. 

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Is the Most Abundant Form of RNA?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-most-abundant-form-of-rna-603892. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). What Is the Most Abundant Form of RNA? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-most-abundant-form-of-rna-603892 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Is the Most Abundant Form of RNA?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-most-abundant-form-of-rna-603892 (accessed June 2, 2023).