DNA vs. RNA
The main difference between DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) is that deoxyribonucleic acid is the storage device that carries all the information about life, whereas ribonucleic acid is the reader that decodes this information.
Key Differences
Deoxyribonucleic acid is also known as DNA; on the other hand; ribonucleic acid is also known as RNA.
A nucleic acid that works as genetic material and carries all the information about the cell is known as deoxyribonucleic acid whereas the nucleic acid that decodes the information stored on deoxyribonucleic acid to perform different works of the cell is known as ribonucleic acid.
DNA is found in the nucleus, plastids and mitochondria of the cell conversely RNA is found in nucleus, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
DNA is a very long polymer, whereas RNA molecules vary in length, but they are always much shorter than long DNA polymers.
DNA is stable in alkaline conditions because of its less reactivity and smaller grooves that make it harder to attack by enzymes. On the other hand, RNA is not stable in alkaline conditions due to its more reactivity and larger grooves that make it easier to attack by enzymes.
DNA can easily be damaged by exposure to ultra-violet rays, whereas RNA is more resistant against Ultra-violet rays.
DNA has a double standard helical-like structure that has two nucleotide strands with a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and four nitrogenous bases. On the flip side, RNA has a single-stranded structure that is made up of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and four nitrogenous bases.
DNA is made up of deoxyribose sugar, whereas RNA is made up of ribose sugar.
In DNA, Adenine binds with thymine (A-T) and cytosine with guanine (C-G), but in RNA, Adenine binds with Uracil (A-U) and cytosine with guanine (C-G).
Deoxyribose sugar in DNA less reactivity because of C-H bonds conversely ribose sugar in RNA shows more reactivity because of C-OH (hydroxyl) bonds.
Nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine while nitrogenous bases in RNA are adenine, Uracil, cytosine, and guanine.
DNA is a self-replicating unit while RNA is synthesized from DNA.
The helix geometry of DNA is B-Form, whereas the helix geometry of RNA is of A-Form.
DNA is the most important part of the cell and carries all the information required for the proper functioning of the cell and also transfer information from generation to generation. On the flip side, RNA translate information encoded on the DNA to form the required protein from the ribosomes.
Comparison Chart
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A nucleic acid that works as genetic material and carries all the information about the cell is known as deoxyribonucleic acid.
The nucleic acid that decodes the information stored on deoxyribonucleic acid to perform different works of the cell is known as ribonucleic acid.
Also Known As
Deoxyribonucleic acid is also known as DNA.
Ribonucleic acid is also known as RNA.
Location
DNA is found in the nucleus, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell.
RNA is found in nucleus, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
Structure
DNA has a double standard helical-like structure that has two nucleotide strands with a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and four nitrogenous bases.
RNA has a single-stranded structure that is made up of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and four nitrogenous bases.
Type of Sugar
DNA is made up of deoxyribose sugar.
RNA is made up of ribose sugar.
Nitrogenous Bases
Nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.
Nitrognous bases in RNA are adenine, Uracil, cytosine, and guanine.
Base Pairing
In DNA, Adenine binds with thymine (A-T) and cytosine with guanine (C-G).
In RNA, Adenine binds with Uracil (A-U) and cytosine with guanine (C-G).
Reactivity
Deoxyribose sugar in DNA has less reactivity due to C-H bonds.
Ribose sugar in RNA shows more reactivity due to C-OH (hydroxyl) bonds.
Stability
It is stable in alkaline conditions because of its less reactivity and smaller grooves that make it harder to attack by enzymes.
RNA is not stable in alkaline conditions due to its more reactivity and larger grooves that make it easier to attack by enzymes.
Propagation
DNA is a self-replicating unit.
RNA is synthesized from DNA.
Helix Geometry
The DNA has B-form helix geometry.
The RNA has A-Form helix geometry.
Damage by Ultra-Violet Rays
DNA can easily be damaged by exposure to ultra-violet rays.
RNA is more resistant against Ultra-violet rays.
Length
DNA is a very long polymer.
RNA molecules vary in length, but they are always much shorter than long DNA polymers.
Function
DNA is the most important part of the cell and carries all the information required for the proper functioning of the cell and also transfer information from generation to generation.
RNA translate information encoded on the DNA to form the required protein from the ribosomes.
DNA and RNA Definitions
Dna
A nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in cells and some viruses, consisting of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thymine or cytosine and guanine. DNA sequences are replicated by the cell prior to cell division and may include genes, intergenic spacers, and regions that bind to regulatory proteins.
Rna
A nucleic acid present in all living cells and many viruses, consisting of a long, usually single-stranded chain of alternating phosphate and ribose units, with one of the bases adenine, guanine, cytosine, or uracil bonded to each ribose molecule. RNA molecules are involved in protein synthesis and sometimes in the transmission of genetic information. Also called ribonucleic acid.
Dna
Alternative form of DNA
Rna
(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell;
Ribonucleic acid is the genetic material of some viruses
Dna
Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid; - more commonly used than the full name. See also RNA.
Dna
(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information;
DNA is the king of molecules
DNA vs. RNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid and Ribonucleic acid are the most important molecules in cell biology. They are responsible for the storage, transfer, and reading of genetic information that is essential for life. Deoxyribonucleic acid is also known as DNA, whereas ribonucleic acid is known as RNA. DNA stores and transfer all the information related to life, whereas RNA decodes this information to perform different duties. DNA has a double standard helix-like structure, whereas RNA has a simple standard structure. Deoxyribonucleic acid is made up of deoxyribose sugar while Ribonucleic acid is made up of ribose sugar. DNA is found in the nucleus, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell; on the other hand, RNA is found in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
What is Deoxyribonucleic Acid?
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that is a long biological molecule and also known as DNA. It is made up of smaller repeating units known as nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base. There are four types of nitrogenous bases, i.e., adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine, and each nucleotide contains any one of them. A large number of nucleotides combine to make two long strand-like structure. Nitrogenous bases of the opposite strand nucleotides form hydrogen bonds between them such that adenine binds with thymine (A-T) and cytosine with guanine (C-G). This bonding causes the two strands of DNA to twist and wind around each other to form a famous double helix-like supercoil structure. DNA is found in the nucleus, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell. Small segments of long DNA strand form genes that carry all the information about the nature of an organism’s biology.
What is Ribonucleic Acid?
Ribonucleic acid is also a nucleic acid but much smaller as compared to DNA and also known as RNA. It is also made up of smaller repeating units known as nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a ribose sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. There are four types of nitrogenous bases in RNA, i.e., adenine, Uracil, cytosine, and guanine, and each nucleotide contain any one of them. A large number of nucleotides combine to make a single-stranded structure in which adenine binds with uracil (A-U) and cytosine with guanine (C-G) to form a coiled structure. It is found in nucleus, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
Types
- Messenger RNA (mRNA): It copies genetic code through DNA through a process called transcription to form required protein through ribosomes.
- Transfer RNA (tRNA): It is responsible for bringing amino acids for the formation of required protein. This process of protein production is known as translation.
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): It is the type of RNA that is present on ribosomes and help in protein production.
