1. Sugar: DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar. The difference lies in the presence of a hydroxyl group on the 2' carbon of ribose, which is absent in deoxyribose.
2. Nitrogenous Bases: Both DNA and RNA contain adenine (A), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). However, they differ in their fourth nitrogenous base: DNA contains thymine (T), while RNA contains uracil (U).
3. Structure: DNA is typically double-stranded, forming a helix, while RNA is typically single-stranded. However, RNA can fold into complex 3D structures due to base pairing within the molecule.
These structural differences lead to functional differences between DNA and RNA:
* DNA: Serves as the genetic blueprint of a cell, containing the instructions for building and maintaining an organism. It is responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information across generations.
* RNA: Plays various roles in the expression of genetic information. It acts as an intermediary between DNA and protein synthesis, and participates in the regulation of gene expression.
