Final answer:
RNA features uracil as its nitrogenous base instead of thymine, which is found in DNA. Uracil pairs with adenine in RNA, reflecting the adenine-thymine pairing in DNA. RNA is also characterized by the presence of ribose sugar, making it distinct from DNA's deoxyribose sugar.
Step-by-step explanation:
RNA contains the nitrogenous base uracil, instead of thymine which is found in DNA. In RNA, uracil pairs with adenine, which mirrors the thymine-adenine pairing in DNA. While both RNA and DNA contain the nitrogenous bases adenine, guanine, and cytosine, the key difference is that RNA contains uracil and is usually a single-stranded molecule. Moreover, RNA molecules contain the sugar ribose, in contrast to the deoxyribose found in DNA. The presence of uracil in RNA instead of thymine is one of the critical distinctions that help in the protein synthesis process, where adenine will always pair up with uracil.