Is RNA its own "thing" or does RNA need DNA and vice versa? -Marina

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RNA is a kind of molecule, just like DNA is a kind of molecule.  As nucleic acids, they both share many common characteristics and work together in cells to carry out a lot of functions.  DNA is used to hold instructions called genes for how to build proteins that give each cell and organism its unique characteristics.  RNA is used to make temporary copies of those instructions so they can actually be used like making a 3x5 card copy of one recipe from a cookbook (your skin cells have the DNA for how to make teeth, but never make the RNA copies of those instructions, so you don't have teeth growing out of the skin of your arm, for example).  RNA is involved in a few other functions, but that's the main one.  I wouldn't say RNA necessarily "needs" DNA (like a card doesn't "need" a cookbook), but the cell needs the two to work together in order to operate.