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Differences Between DNA and RNA

DNA and RNA differ in their structure, location, and function. DNA is located in the cell nucleus and mitochondria, has the sugar deoxyribose, and is a double-stranded molecule that stores genetic information long-term. RNA is found in the cytoplasm and ribosomes, has the sugar ribose, and is a single-stranded molecule that aids in protein synthesis. While DNA replicates itself, RNA is synthesized from DNA and helps carry out the genetic code by assisting in protein production. The base pairing also differs between DNA, which pairs A-T and G-C, and RNA, which substitutes U for T.

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2K views

Differences Between DNA and RNA

DNA and RNA differ in their structure, location, and function. DNA is located in the cell nucleus and mitochondria, has the sugar deoxyribose, and is a double-stranded molecule that stores genetic information long-term. RNA is found in the cytoplasm and ribosomes, has the sugar ribose, and is a single-stranded molecule that aids in protein synthesis. While DNA replicates itself, RNA is synthesized from DNA and helps carry out the genetic code by assisting in protein production. The base pairing also differs between DNA, which pairs A-T and G-C, and RNA, which substitutes U for T.

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monisha
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Differences Between DNA and RNA

Following are the important differences between DNA and RNA:

Type DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) RNA (Ribonucleic acid)


It is a long polymer. It has a deoxyribose and Is a polymer with a ribose and phosphate
Definition phosphate backbone having four distinct bases: backbone with four varying bases: uracil,
thymine, adenine, cytosine, and guanine. cytosine, adenine, and guanine.
It is located in the nucleus of a cell and in the It is found in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and in
Location
mitochondria. the ribosome.
Sugar portion It has 2-deoxyribose. It has Ribose.
DNA is functional is the transmission of genetic RNA is functional is the transmission of the
Function information. It forms as a media for long-term genetic code that is necessary for the protein
storage. creation from the nucleus to the ribosome.
Predominant The DNA is a double-stranded molecule that has a The RNA is a single-stranded molecule
Structure long chain of nucleotides. which has a shorter chain of nucleotides.
RNA does not replicate on its own. It is
Propagation DNA replicates on its own, it is self-replicating.
synthesized from DNA when required.
Nitrogenous The base pairing is as follows: The base pairing is as follows:
Bases and GC(Guanine pairs with Cytosine) GC(Guanine pairs with Cytosine)
Pairing A-T(Adenine pairs with Thymine). A-U(Adenine pairs with Uracil).

Types Of DNA

 A-DNA: It is found at a humidity of 75%. In an environment where there is a higher salt


concentration or ionic concentrations, such as K+, Na+, Cs+ or in a state of dehydration it endures in
a form that contains 11 nucleotide pairs with a rise of 2.56A0 vertically per base pair. It has the
broadest helical diameter amongst all DNA forms – 23A0 DNA which is a typical helix that is right-
handed with a rotation of 32.70 per base pair.
 B-DNA: It is found at a humidity of 9.25 and a low salt concentration or ionic strength. It has 10
base pairs per turn which from the helix axis. There is a distance of 3.4A0 with a helical diameter of
20A0. The Watson-Crick’s double helix model is defined as a B-form of DNA.
 C-DNA: It is observed at a humidity of 66% and in the occupancy of a few ions such as
Lithium(Li+). It closely has 9.33 base pairs for every turn. The diameter of the helix is
about 19A0and the vertical rises for every base pair for the right-handed helix is 3.320.
 D-DNA: It is observed rarely as an extreme variant. The 8 base pairs are titled negatively from the
helix axis with an axial rise if about 3.03A0
 Z-DNA: It is found in an environment with a very high salt concentration. Unlike the A, B, and C
type of DNA, it is a left-handed helical structure. The backbone is arranged in a zig-zag pattern
formed by the sugar-phosphate linkage wherein the recurrent monomer is the dinucleotide in contrast
to the mononucleotide which is observed in alternate forms.

Types Of RNA

Only some of the genes in cells are expressed into RNA. The following are the types of RNA wherein each
type is encoded by its own type of gene:
 tRNA– The transfer RNA or the tRNA carries amino acids to ribosomes while translation
 mRNA – The messenger RNA or the mRNA encodes amino acid sequences of a polypeptide
 rRNA – The ribosomal RNA or the rRNA produces ribosomes with the ribosomal proteins that are
organelles responsible for the translation of the mRNA.
 snRNA – The small nuclear RNA forms the complexes along with proteins which are utilized in
RNA processing in the eukaryotes.
 The difference between DNA and gene are summarized below

Difference between Gene and DNA


Gene DNA- Deoxyribonucleic acid
Genes are the DNA stretches which are encoded for DNA is a chemical which stores the genetic
different proteins. information of an organism.
Regulates the traits of an organism. Regulates the gene regulation.
A small stretches of DNA. A long chain polynucleotide.
DNA is made up of simpler monomer units called
Genes are made up of either DNA or RNA.
nucleotides.
A gene is located on a chromosome. DNA is located within the nucleus of the cell.
Are coded with heredity information. Encodes the genetic instructions.

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