DNA vs RNA Comparison

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule that carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) is a molecule that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis. It acts as a messenger carrying genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, where proteins are made.

DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose, while RNA contains the sugar ribose. The difference lies in the presence of an oxygen atom on the 2' carbon of ribose, which is absent in deoxyribose.

Both DNA and RNA are polymers made up of nucleotides linked together by phosphodiester bonds. These bonds form the backbone of the nucleic acid structure.

DNA is double-stranded, meaning it consists of two polynucleotide chains that are antiparallel and held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs. RNA, in contrast, is single-stranded.

In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G) through hydrogen bonds. RNA also follows complementary base pairing, but uracil (U) replaces thymine, so adenine pairs with uracil (A-U) in RNA.

DNA is primarily located in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, where it serves as the genetic blueprint. RNA, on the other hand, is involved in protein synthesis and can be found in different forms (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) both in the nucleus and cytoplasm.

DNA acts as the genetic blueprint, containing the instructions for building proteins. RNA plays a crucial role in protein synthesis, acting as a messenger to carry the coding information from DNA to ribosomes, where proteins are assembled.