ABSTRACT
In its capacity to process information and catalyze biochemical
reactions within each cell, ribonucleic acid (RNA) permeates many
areas of the biological sciences. For example, RNA’s exceptional
versatility has sparked ideas about how life might have originated
on planet Earth. Taking hints from nature, the potential use of
RNA molecules in bio-and nanotechnology as a sensor, drug, and
molecular machine has now been realized and is at the forefront of
the applied biosciences. This chapter provides some guidance for
understanding the important principles that govern the structure
and function of RNA molecules.
