1. Sugar: RNA contains ribose sugar, while DNA contains deoxyribose sugar. The difference lies in the presence of a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the 2' carbon of ribose, while deoxyribose lacks this hydroxyl group. This makes RNA less stable than DNA.
2. Bases: Both RNA and DNA use adenine (A), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). However, RNA uses uracil (U) instead of thymine (T) found in DNA.
3. Structure: DNA typically exists as a double helix, with two antiparallel strands held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases. RNA can be single-stranded or form complex secondary structures. It often folds into unique shapes, allowing for diverse functions beyond simply carrying genetic information.
