A macromolecule that primarily functions as a messenger carrying genetic instructions from DNA to make proteins but also contributes to gene regulation, shaping chromatin structure in chromosomes, and cellular defenses. There are different types of RNA, each one serving a different role. It is a single strand structure unlike DNA, which is a double helix structure. RNA is made up of ribose sugar, phosphate, and four chemical bases (Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, and Cytosine). These four chemicals pair together as A-U and G-C.