Question

Describe the structural differences between DNA and RNA. Describe the complementary base pairing between the two individual strands of DNA that forms the overall double-helical structure. How is complementary base pairing involved in the replication of the DNA molecule during cell division?

Short answer

(a) RNA is single-stranded and DNA double-stranded.

(b) The complementary base pairing in DNA molecules is particularly in that guanine always forms hydrogen bonds with cytosine and thymine

(c) In DNA replication, the molecule separates; in fact, the hydrogen bonds between the bases break, and each strand with its nucleotide can only be re-linked to its complementary base.

Step-by-step solution

The structural differences between DNA and RNA.

There are several structural differences between DNA and RNA molecules. The first structural difference between DNA and RNA is that RNA is single-stranded and DNA double-stranded. Then, in RNA we find sugar ribose, and in DNA deoxyribose, and the last difference is that RNA has uracil and DNA has thymine.

To describe the complementary base pairing

The complementary base pairing in DNA molecules is particularly in that guanine always forms hydrogen bonds with cytosine and thymine with adenine.

To find the complementary base pairing involved

In DNA replication, the molecule separates, in fact the hydrogen bonds between the bases break and each strand with its nucleotide can only be re-linked to its complementary base.

Hence In DNA replication, the molecule separates, in fact the hydrogen bonds between the bases break and each strand with its nucleotide can only be re-linked to its complementary base.