Short Answer 
The answer explains RNA as a crucial nucleic acid with a single strand of ribose sugar and four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. It highlights the importance of uracil, which differentiates RNA from DNA, and analyzes the provided RNA sequence, confirming its composition as RNA due to the presence of uracil.
Step 1: Understand RNA Structure
RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a type of nucleic acid that plays a crucial role in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. It consists of a single strand made up of ribose sugar and four nitrogenous bases. The common bases in RNA are:
- Adenine (A)
- Guanine (G)
- Cytosine (C)
- Uracil (U)
Step 2: Identify Unique Features of RNA
A major difference between RNA and DNA is the presence of uracil in RNA, which replaces thymine found in DNA. This distinction is significant because it impacts various functions and interactions within cells. In the given RNA strand, the inclusion of uracil is essential to identify its type, making it vital for biological processes.
Step 3: Analyze the Given RNA Sequence
The provided RNA sequence is CAAGGUCUC which consists exclusively of RNA bases and contains uracil. By recognizing this sequence, you can confirm the composition and the type of nucleic acid it represents. Thus, this sequence is indicative of RNA due to the presence of uracil rather than thymine.