Question

Which of the following represents a similarity between RNA and DNA?

1) Both are double-stranded
2) the presence of uracil
3) the presence of an OH group on the 2' carbon of the sugar
4) nucleotides consisting of a phosphate, sugar, and nitrogenous base

Answer 1

RNA and DNA share structural similarities by having nucleotides consisting of a phosphate, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base. Key differences include RNA usually being single-stranded with ribose sugar, and DNA being double-stranded with deoxyribose sugar. Also, RNA contains uracil in place of DNA's thymine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The similarity between RNA and DNA lies in their shared structural components. Both of these nucleic acids have nucleotides that consist of a phosphate, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base. However, there are some key differences between the two. RNA is primarily single-stranded, while DNA is double-stranded. Moreover, RNA contains the sugar ribose with an OH group on the 2' carbon, contrary to DNA's deoxyribose, which lacks this hydroxyl group. When it comes to nitrogenous bases, both RNA and DNA harbor adenine, guanine, and cytosine. Thymine is exclusive to DNA, and its counterpart in RNA is uracil.