1. Sugar Molecule: DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar. The difference lies in the presence of an extra hydroxyl group (-OH) on the 2' carbon of ribose, making RNA more reactive and less stable than DNA.
2. Nitrogenous Bases: Both DNA and RNA have adenine (A), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). However, DNA has thymine (T), while RNA has uracil (U) in its place. This difference in base composition impacts the structure and function of the nucleic acids.
3. Structure: DNA typically exists as a double helix, with two strands intertwined. RNA, on the other hand, usually exists as a single strand, although it can fold into complex structures. This single-stranded nature allows RNA to perform a variety of roles in protein synthesis and regulation.
