DNA vs RNA: A comparison in structure and function
Introduction:
DNA and RNA are two types of nucleic acids present in all prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells. Mainly, both of them are polymers of nucleotides that have a
prominent role in the storage and expression of genetic information in any living
organism. Also, the presence of two main categories of nucleotides, which undergo
the process of transcription and translation, is the core of protein synthesis.
DNA vs RNA: Structure
Most of the DNA is located in the nucleus, although a small amount can be found
in mitochondria, known as mitochondrial DNA. In eukaryotic cells, DNA is
packed into structures called chromosomes. The complete set of chromosomes in
a cell defines its genome. The genetics information carried by DNA is held in a
sequence of pieces of DNA called genes.
DNA consists of two long strands of simple units called nucleotides, with
backbones made of deoxyribose sugar molecules and phosphate groups. These two
strands are anti-parallel as they run in opposite directions to each other. Attached
to each sugar is one of four types of molecules called nucleobases (nitrogenous
bases). The sequence of these four nitrogenous bases along the backbone encodes
the genetic information. The anti-parallel ends of DNA strands are called the 5′
(five prime) and 3′ (three prime) ends.
Bases are classified into two types: the purines, A and G, and the pyrimidines, C
and T. In the DNA double helix, each type of base on one strand normally interacts
with just one type of base on the other strand, with A bonding only to T, and C
bonding only to G according to base pairing rules.
Like DNA, RNA is made up of nucleotides. RNAs are among a cell’s key
regulatory constituents where they
catalyze biological reactions and
control and modulate gene
expression.
In RNA, each nucleotide consists of a
nucleobase, a ribose sugar, and a
phosphate group. A major structural
differences between DNA and RNA is the sugar, with the 2-deoxyribose in DNA
being replaced by ribose in RNA. The second one is that RNA has the nucleobase
uracil while DNA contains thymine. Figure (1) shows the main structural
differences between DNA and RNA
Figure 1- The key structural differences between DNA and RNA
DNA vs RNA: Function
The function of DNA can be summarized in the following points:
It is responsible for storing genetic information.
It is responsible for metabolic activities, evolution, and hereditary.
Directs the process of protein synthesis.
The main function of RNA is that it is responsible for transferring genetic
information from DNA to proteins, carrying it outside the nucleus, and translating
it into proteins.
Citations:
Aryal, S., Elgamal, I. S. H., patil, O., & Stha, S. (2020, July 7). 30
Differences between DNA and RNA (DNA vs RNA). Microbe Notes.
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fbclid=IwAR1soJAYiYuZJVUGHIKCC0RK2sj5wlwb0D_zw-
TAyY9acjWcshZycicU1Ag.
DNA and RNA: Computational Medicine Center at Thomas Jefferson
University. | Computational Medicine Center at Thomas Jefferson
University. (n.d.). https://cm.jefferson.edu/learn/dna-and-rna/.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, P. D. (n.d.). Do You Know the Differences
Between DNA and RNA? ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/dna-
versus-rna-608191#:~:text=DNA%20is%20a%20double%2Dstranded,is
%20a%20single%2Dstranded%20molecule.&text=DNA%20and%20RNA
%20perform%20different,and%20ribosomes%20to%20make%20proteins.
