Question

List the differences between RNA and DNA.

Short answer

The differences between RNA and DNA lie in their structure (DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded), their sugar component (DNA contains deoxyribose, RNA contains ribose), the nitrogenous bases they contain (DNA has thymine while RNA has uracil), and their function (DNA for genetic storage, RNA for protein synthesis).

Step-by-step solution

Fundamental Differences

The first major difference between RNA and DNA is their structure. DNA is a double-stranded molecule consisting of two helical chains spiraling around each other. On the other hand, RNA is typically a single-stranded molecule.

Sugar Component

The second difference is in the sugar component of each molecule. In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, hence the 'D' in DNA for 'deoxy'. In RNA, however, the 'R' stands for 'ribonucleic', indicating that the sugar is ribose.

Nitrogenous Bases

The third difference lies in the nitrogenous bases that each molecule contains. DNA has adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Meanwhile, RNA also has adenine (A), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), but instead of thymine, it has uracil (U).

Functional Differences

Lastly, DNA and RNA also differ in their functions. DNA serves as the primary material for genetic information storage, while RNA is involved in protein synthesis, acting as a messenger, transfer, or ribosomal molecule.