Final answer:
DNA and RNA both consist of nucleotides including a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base. DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose and thymine, whereas RNA is single-stranded with ribose and uracil. DNA's primary role is in heredity, while RNA is integral to protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of DNA and RNA Composition
DNA and RNA are both essential nucleic acids in the biology of living organisms. RNA vs. DNA: RNA is typically single-stranded and contains the sugar ribose, while DNA is typically double-stranded and contains the sugar deoxyribose. An important difference in structure is that DNA has thymine as one of its four nitrogenous bases, whereas RNA has uracil in thymine's place.
Both DNA and RNA consist of long chains of nucleotides which include a phosphate group, a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, which lacks an oxygen atom at the 2' position, while in RNA, the sugar is ribose which includes this oxygen.
Moreover, DNA is the fundamental material responsible for heredity and is found in chromosomes within the nucleus of cells. In contrast, RNA plays a crucial role in protein synthesis, transferring genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes in the cell cytoplasm where proteins are assembled.
Ultimately, both DNA and RNA are vital for the genetic functioning of organisms, but they differ in their structure, the sugars they contain, and their roles within cellular processes.