Final answer:
The DNA and RNA relationship is pivotal to genetic function, where DNA acts as the long-term storage of genetic information and RNA relays this information to synthesize proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) is central to the molecular biology of cells. DNA is a long, double-stranded molecule organized into chromosomes and serves as the durable blueprint for genetic information. In contrast, RNA is typically single-stranded and acts as a messenger, transferring the genetic codes from DNA to the machinery of the cell that synthesizes proteins.
Both DNA and RNA are nucleic acids composed of nucleotides; however, DNA uses thymine (T) as one of its bases, while RNA uses uracil (U) in its place. Additionally, the sugar in the backbone of RNA nucleotides is ribose, as opposed to deoxyribose in DNA. One of RNA's key roles is to be synthesized as messenger RNA (mRNA) during protein synthesis, to carry genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are made