Final answer:
DNA and RNA are nucleic acids with key differences. DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose sugar and thymine, while RNA is single-stranded with ribose sugar and uracil.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences between DNA and RNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are both nucleic acids found in living cells, where they carry genetic information and play a key role in protein synthesis. However, they have some distinct differences:
DNA is typically double-stranded, forming a double helix, whereas RNA is usually single-stranded.
Both DNA and RNA are made up of nucleotides that include a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA, it is ribose.
The four bases of DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil (U), although adenine, cytosine, and guanine are present in both.
These differences are crucial as they reflect the different functions of DNA and RNA within the cell. DNA stores the genetic information, while RNA uses this information to help synthesize proteins.