DNA and RNA

DNA and RNA are the building blocks of life. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a hereditary substance in humans and every kind of organisms. A gene is the section of DNA and is the unit of heredity. Therefore, it is responsible for transmission of genetic information. RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) transmits genetic information for synthesis of proteins. Proteins are responsible for expression of traits.

Differences between DNA and RNA

The three things that make up each strand of DNA and RNA are:

1. Nitrogenous Base (A,G,C,T)
2. Pentose sugar
3. Phosphate Group

1.Nitrogenous Bases

Bases present in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). Bases present in RNA are adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

2. Pentose sugar

The 5-carbon sugars called as pentose sugars (pentose means five carbon atoms) are ribose (in RNA) and deoxyribose (in DNA). The sugar present in the nucleotides makes RNA different from DNA. RNA molecule consists of ribose sugar, thus called as Ribonucleic acid. DNA contains deoxyribose, thus called as Deoxyribonucleic acid.

3. Stability

RNA is not stable in alkaline conditions because of the hydroxyl group in 2nd position. Threfore, DNA is more stable because of deoxyribose sugar. Read: THYMINE and URACIL structure with diagram

4. Strand

DNA is double Stranded Molecules and RNA is single stranded molecules.

Chargaff’s rule is applicable only for double stranded DNA molecule. It is not applicable to single stranded DNA or RNA because in dsDNA molecule complementary base pairing occurs between A and T, and G and C base pairs.

5. Role

DNA is responsible for transmission of genetic information which means heredity. RNA is responsible for expression of traits and protein synthesis.

6. Location

DNA is located in the nucleus, small quantiy is also present in mitochondria and chloroplast. Chloroplast is present only in plants. RNA is located in cytoplasm but small quantity is also located in nucleus.

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Read also:

• Transcription and translation difference
• Exons and Introns
• DNA replication process
• The two strands of DNA are held together by

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