What is the difference between DNA and RNA

DNA or DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, is a nucleic acid made of two polynulcleotide strands (double stranded). These polynucleotide strands consist of a phosphate group, five-carbon sugar (stable 2-deoxyribose) and four nitrogen nucleobases known as adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine and these link to each other to create base pairings. 

Adenine links to thymine (A-T), and cytosine links with guanine (C-G). 

DNA is found in the nucleus of the cell and in the mitochondria, and has the role of storing genetic information, that can determine the organisms biology by acting essentially as a blue print or recipe. 

RNA stands for RiboNulcleic Acid, and unlike DNA is composed of one polynucleotide strand (single stranded). It chemical makeup contains a phosphate group, five carbon sugar which is not as stable as the one present in DNA and four nitrogen nucleobases: adenine, uracil (not thymine), guanine, and cytosine.

Adenine links to uracil (A-U), and cytosine links with guanine (C-G). 

RNA has different forms such as mRNA, tRNA and rRNA, and can be found in a few different places such as the nucleus, cytoplasm and ribosme. 

RD
Answered by Robyn D. Biology tutor

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