Differences Between DNA and RNA

Following are the important differences between DNA and RNA:

In cells, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the nucleic acid that functions as the original blueprint for the synthesis of
proteins. DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose, phosphates and a unique sequence of the nitrogenous bases adenine (A),
guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T).

Brief Insight into the Structure and Composition of DNA

The DNA molecules contain instructions a living entity requires to grow, develop and reproduce. These instructions are
present inside each cell and are inherited from the parents to their offspring.

It is made up of nucleotides which contain a nitrogenous group, a phosphate group, and a sugar group. The order of the
nitrogenous bases – thymine(T), guanine(G), cytosine(C), and adenine(A), is crucial in determining the genetic code.

Genes are formed by the order of the nitrogenous bases present in the DNA which is crucial for protein synthesis. RNA is
another nucleic acid that translates genetic information into proteins from DNA.

The nucleotides are linked together for the formation of two long strands which spiral to produce a structure known as
the double-helix which resembles that of a ladder wherein the sugar and phosphate molecules form the sides while the
rungs are formed by the bases.

The bases located on one strand pair up with the bases on the other strand, as in – guanine pairs with cytosine and
adenine pairs with thymine.

The DNA molecules are extremely long and hence without the right packaging, they cannot fit into cells. Thus, DNA is
tightly coiled to produce formations referred to as chromosomes. Every chromosome has a single DNA molecule. In
humans, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes that are present within the nucleus of the cells.

Main article: DNA Structure

Types Of DNA

A-DNA: It is found at a relative 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 2.56Å vertically per base pair. It has the broadest helical diameter amongst all DNA forms – 23Å DNA
which is a typical helix that is right-handed with a rotation of 32.70 per base pair.

B-DNA: The most common form, present in most DNA at neutral pH and physiological salt concentrations, is B-form. It
has 10 base pairs per turn from the helix axis. There is a distance of 3.4Å with a helical diameter of 20Å. Watson-Crick’s
double helix model is defined as a B-form of DNA.

C-DNA: It is observed at a relative 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 19Å and the vertical rise 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 of about 3.03Å

Z-DNA: It is found in an environment with a very high salt concentration. Unlike the A, B, and C types 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.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid which is directly involved in protein synthesis. Ribonucleic acid is an important
nucleotide with long chains of nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its main role is to act as a messenger conveying
instructions from DNA for controlling protein synthesis.

RNA contains the sugar ribose, phosphates, and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil
(U). DNA and RNA share the nitrogenous bases A, G, and C. Thymine is usually only present in DNA and uracil is usually
only present in RNA.

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.

Explore More: Structure of RNA

Role Of Protein

To place these ideas in the proper context, remember that some proteins are enzymes that aid cells by catalyzing
chemical reactions. These chemical reactions occur after the enzyme binds its substrate at the enzyme’s active site. The
enzyme’s active site matches the substrate molecule in size, shape and chemical properties.
The size, shape, and chemical properties of an enzyme’s active site are due to the combination of the enzyme’s amino
acids, which are the individual subunits of the enzyme. For the cell to reliably make an enzyme, the cell must be able to
control the placement of amino acids in a protein during the synthesis of enzymes.

Proteins play a critical role in how cells successfully meet the challenges of living. Cells use proteins to maintain their
shape and to speed up important chemical reactions such as photosynthesis and respiration.

A cell will not live long if it cannot reliably create the proteins that it needs for survival.

More to Read: Proteins

To learn more about the difference between DNA and RNA, visit BYJU’S Biology.

Further Reading

The Polynucleotide Molecule

Difference Between Gene and DNA

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1

What is the composition of DNA and RNA?

DNA and RNA are nearly identical polymers of nucleotides, except for the base pairs. DNA contains thymine while the
same is substituted with uracil in RNA.

Q2

Where are DNA and RNA found?

DNA is located in the nucleus of a cell and in the mitochondria. Meanwhile, RNA is found in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and
also in ribosomes.

Q3

How does propagation occur in DNA and RNA?

DNA is capable of self-replication but RNA cannot self-replicate instead, it is synthesized from DNA (DNA transcription)
when required.
Q4

What is the similarity between DNA and RNA?

Three out of the four nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA are the same (cytosine, adenine, guanine). They both possess a
phosphate backbone to which the bases attach.

Q5

Why is DNA a better genetic material than RNA?

The deoxyribose sugar of DNA contains one less oxygen-containing hydroxyl group. DNA is a more stable nucleic acid.
RNA, on the other hand, contains ribose sugar and is more reactive than DNA. Therefore, DNA is a better genetic
material than RNA.

Q6

Which plant hormone is helpful in making RNA and protein?

The plant hormone cytokinin helps in the synthesis of protein and RNA. It functions naturally in conjunction with auxins.
In the presence of auxins, it promotes cell division and development. It enables awakening seeds from their dormancy.