What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

-DNA (Deoxyribose nucleic acid) is a structure made up of a sugar-phosphate backbones linked to one of four chemical bases (adenine, thymine, guanine or cytosine) DNA has a double helix structure that coils to reduce the space needed to store information. -RNA (Ribonucleic acid) is a single stranded structure and also has a Uracil base instead of Thymine. RNA is less stable than DNA and is often used as a messenger in protein synthesis (in its mRNA or tRNA forms) The sugar in RNA is also a ribose sugar as opposed to a deoxyribose sugar in DNA.-The key differences are- RNA's single stranded structure, Uracil base, RNA's weaker stability particularly in alkaline conditions and the Ribose sugar found in RNA.

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Answered by Benjamin M. Biology tutor

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