* DNA: The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose. It has one less oxygen atom than ribose. Specifically, the 2' carbon (the second carbon atom in the sugar ring) lacks an -OH (hydroxyl) group.
* RNA: The sugar in RNA is ribose. It has an -OH group attached to the 2' carbon.
This subtle difference in the sugar molecule has important implications:
* Stability: DNA is generally more stable than RNA. The lack of an -OH group at the 2' position makes DNA less reactive and less susceptible to hydrolysis (breakdown by water).
* Structure: The presence of the hydroxyl group at the 2' position in RNA makes it more flexible. This allows RNA to fold into complex three-dimensional structures that are essential for its various functions.
To summarize:
| Feature | DNA | RNA |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Deoxyribose | Ribose |
| 2' Carbon | H | OH |
| Stability | More stable | Less stable |
| Structure | Double helix | More diverse, can fold into complex structures |
