Question

Distinguish between RNA and DNA.

Answer 1

Sr. No.	RNA	DNA
1.	The majority of the RNA is contained in the cytoplasm.	It mainly occurs within the nucleus and specific cell organelles.
2.	Apart from specific viruses, RNA does not serve as the genetic material.	DNA represents the genetic material.
3.	RNA is single-stranded, except in some viruses (e.g., double stranded in Reovirus).	Unlike certain viruses (e.g., Φ × 174), it is double-stranded.
4.	There are at least three types of RNA: mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA.	There are only two types of DNA: intranuclear and extranuclear.
5.	It contains ribose sugar.	It contains deoxyribose sugar.
6.	Thymine is substituted with uracil in RNA, whereas the other three are similar: adenine, cytosine, and guanine.	Nitrogen bases in DNA include adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.
7.	Many unusual or modified bases are frequently present.	Unusual bases are scarce or nonexistent.
8.	Base pairing via hydrogen bonds occurs exclusively in the coiled portions.	Hydrogen bonds develop between complementary nitrogen bases on the opposite strands of DNA (A-T and C-G).
9.	The strand may fold at points to form a secondary helix or pseudohelix.	DNA is spirally twisted to form a regular helix.
10.	It cannot usually reproduce itself.	It replicates to produce new DNA molecules.
11.	RNA transforms the transcribed message into polypeptides.	DNA transcribes genetic information into RNA.
12.	The RNA quantity in a cell is variable.	The quantity is fixed for each cell.
13.	There is no association between the number of purine and pyrimidine bases.	There are an equal number of purine and pyrimidine bases.
14.	It exists in ribosomes or establishes a connection with them.	It takes the form of a prochromosome, chromatin, or chromosomes.
15.	Some RNAs are extremely short-lived, whereas others are slightly longer.	It is long-lived.