Home > Science Fact Finder > Biology - What Is The Difference Between Dna And Rna?

Biology - What Is The Difference Between Dna And Rna?

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, is the long-chain molecule that contains the genetic material (encoded hereditary characteristics)

in living organisms. RNA, which stands for ribonucleic acid, is also a long-chain molecule. The function of RNA is to translate the genetic material stored in DNA, into protein structures. RNA essentially carries out the instructions of DNA.

DNA is a type of complex acid, called a nucleic acid, made of a repeating pattern of simple building blocks called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate (PO4), a sugar (deoxyribose), and a base which is either adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), or cytosine (C). In a DNA molecule, nucleotides exist as two spiral strands linked at their bases (either between A and T or between G and C). This structure, which resembles a twisted ladder, is known as a double...

[The entire page is 294 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass