What are the differences and similarities of RNA and DNA?

Question

What are the differences and similarities of RNA and DNA?

Answer 1

DNA-contains thymine, is normally double stranded in an anti-parallel double helix, contains the sugar 2-deoxyribose, more stable than RNA.

RNA-contains uracil in place of thymine, is normally single stranded, contains the sugar ribose (has a hydroxyl group attached to the pentose ring), less stable than DNA mainly because of the afore mentioned hydroxyl group.

Both contain the nucleotides adenine, cytosine and guanine, are nucleic acids, and have a charge to mass ratio of 1

Answer 2

COMPARISON OF DNA and RNA:

DNA is Deoxyribonucleic acid

RNA is Ribonucleic acid

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PREDOMINANT STRUCTURE: DNA is typically a double-stranded molecule with a long chain of nucleotides.

RNA is a single-stranded molecule in most of it's biological roles and has a shorter chain of nucleotides.

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BASES & SUGARS: DNA is a long polymer with a deoxyribose and phosphate backbone and four different bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine.

RNA is a polymer with a ribose and phosphate backbone and four different bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.

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DEFINITION: DNA is nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms.

RNA is a nucleic acid polymer that plays an important role in the process that translates genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into protein products.

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FUNCTIONS: DNA is a medium of long-term storage and transmission of genetic information.

RNA acts as a messenger between DNA and the protein synthesis complexes known as ribosomes.

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TYPES: There is only one type of DNA.

There are three primary types of RNA:  (1) mRNA (messenger RNA, which carries DNA message to cytoplasm), (2) tRNA (transfer RNA, which carries amino acids to mRNA and Ribosomes), and (3) rRNA (Ribosomal RNA, the workbench for protein synthesis).

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PAIRING OF BASES: In DNA, A-T (Adenine-Thymine) and G-C (Guanine-Cytosine).

In RNA, A-U (Adenine-Uracil) and G-C (Guanine-Cytosine).

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STABILITY: Deoxyribose sugar in DNA is less reactive because of C-H bonds. Stable in alkaline conditions. DNA has smaller grooves where the damaging enzyme can attach which makes it harder for the enzyme to attack DNA.

Ribose sugar in RNA is more reactive because of C-OH (hydroxyl) bonds. Not stable in alkaline conditions. RNA on the other hand has larger grooves which makes it easier to be attacked by enzymes.

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UNIQUE FEATURES: The helix geometry of DNA is of B-Form. DNA is completely protected by the body (i.e., the body destroys enzymes that cleave DNA). DNA can be damaged by exposure to Ultra-violet rays.

The helix geometry of RNA is of A-Form. RNA strands are continually made, broken down and reused. RNA is more resistant to damage by Ultra-violet rays.

Answer 3

Some of the chemicals are the same, but not all, and the functions are different.

DNA has four chemicals; Adenine (A), Thymine(T), Cytosine(C) and Guanine(G).  A bonds with T, and C bonds with G.  DNA acts as a blueprint of what the cell is supposed to do.

RNA has C and G, but either A or T is replaced.  I forget which, and I forget the chemical it is replace with.  RNA "reads" the DNA, and transfers the information to a Ribosomess.  The Ribosome then makes a protein based on the information it received from the RNA, which differentiates the cell, making it a blood, skin, eye, liver, or brain cell.

Answer 4

I can help!

RNA stands for RiboNucleic Acid and DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid. They are both made out of a sugar backbone with phosphodiester bonds connecting each nucleotide. They both can form hydrogen bonds between nucleotides of other molecules to create an anti-parallel structure. They both use Adenine, Guanine, and Cytosine -- the fourth nucleotide differs -- Thymine for DNA and Uracil for RNA. They both are used to convey information that eventually leads to protein synthesis.

Differences? DNA is the "blueprint", and RNA is the "messenger" in the most simple form. DNA will remain in the nucleus. RNA will synthesize around the DNA in the nucleus and then go out into the cytoplasm where it is expressed.

Structurally, they are different as well. DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single stranded. DNA is much more stable and cannot degrade as easily as RNA(this is a GOOD thing, otherwise you'd have gobs of RNA lying around). DNA has on it's carbon ring one less hydroxy group(hence the name DEOXYribonucleic acid).

There's some more differences, but this is probably more along the lines of what you're looking for.