Final answer:
Both DNA and RNA are nucleic acids; DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose and thymine, while RNA is single-stranded with ribose and uracil. RNA is primarily involved in protein synthesis, with mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA each playing important roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Similarities and Differences between DNA and RNA
Both DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are nucleic acids that play vital roles in the storage and expression of genetic information. Structurally, RNA is single-stranded and contains the sugar ribose, whereas DNA is double-stranded and has the sugar deoxyribose. A key difference between their structures is the presence of thymine in DNA, which is replaced by uracil in RNA. The substrates for DNA and RNA synthesis are nucleotides that include adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and either thymine (DNA) or uracil (RNA).
RNA's role is primarily in the synthesis of proteins, where the three main types of RNA — messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) — work together to translate the genetic instructions from DNA into proteins. RNA's structure, being single-stranded, allows it to fold into complex shapes that are crucial for its function in protein synthesis.
Learn more about RNA vs. DNA