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 Difference Between DNA and RNA

DNA is double-stranded, forming a double helix, while RNA is usually single-stranded. Check this article to know more about the difference between DNA and RNA.
authorImageJasdeep Bhatia12 Mar, 2024
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 Difference Between DNA and RNA

Difference Between DNA and RNA: In cell biology, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are the most significant molecules since they store and read the genetic information that makes life possible. They both include sugars, phosphates, and bases and are linear polymers but differ significantly in crucial ways. These distinctions allow the two molecules to cooperate and perform their necessary functions.

The two molecules differ in their roles, structures, typical lengths, base and sugar content (RNA has uracil instead of thymine, while DNA contains deoxyribose), locations, reactions to enzymes, and UV radiation. This article will discuss the structure, functions and types of DNA and RNA molecules and derive their differences in detail.

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Deoxy-Ribonucleic Acid(DNA)

The genetic information passed down the generations is stored in the Deoxyribonucleic acid in the form of nitrogenous base patterns, which can be resolved to form proteins needed for survival and growth. It is a nucleic acid and one of the four main classes of macromolecules necessary for all kinds of life. A small quantity of DNA is also present in the mitochondria of eukaryotes, in addition to the nucleus, where DNA is primarily located.

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DNA Structure

  • James Watson and Francis Crick identified the DNA structure in 1953.
  • Watson and Crick's discovery was made possible by the works of Rosalind Franklin. Franklin initially noted the two spirals in the DNA.
  • DNA is a double helix in structure because it is arranged, which resembles a twisted ladder,
  • The ladder's steps are composed of two nitrogen bases, while the sides are made up of deoxyribose and phosphate molecules alternately.
  • Nitrogen bases come in 4 different varieties. The pairing of the DNA bases Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). A unique pairing pattern exists for the nitrogen bases.
  • Because the amounts of adenine and thymine are equal, as well as guanine and cytosine, this pairing pattern develops. Hydrogen bonds keep the pairs attached.

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DNA Composition

  • A double-stranded helix makes up DNA. Each DNA molecule comprises two biopolymer strands that coil around one another to form a double helix shape. Since they are constructed from more basic monomer units known as nucleotides, these two DNA strands are known as polynucleotides.
  • Each strand has a 3' end with a hydroxyl group and a 5' end with a phosphate group.
  • The strands are antiparallel, thus one runs in a 5' to 3' direction and the other in a 3' to 5' direction.
  • Hydrogen bonds hold the two strands together and allow them to work well with one another.
  • Deoxyribonucleotides make up the bulk of the DNA.
  • 3' to 5' phosphodiester linkages hold the deoxyribonucleotides together.
  • Adenine, cytosine, thymine, and guanine are the nitrogenous bases that makeup deoxyribonucleotides.
  • Because of the makeup of nitrogenous bases, the strands complement each other. The bases adenine and cytosine always form two hydrogen bonds with thymine (A-T) and three hydrogen bonds with guanine (C-G) on the opposing strand, respectively.
  • Hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between bases help to maintain the helix's structure.
  • The diameter of the helical loop is 2 nm and repeats every 3.4 nm, or 10 base pairs, the size of a base pair.

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Properties of DNA

  • Either a right- or left-handed DNA helix can exist. However, the most stable DNA structure is the B-conformation, which has right-handed helices.
  • The two DNA strands split apart during heating and rehybridise once the temperature drops.
  • The temperature at which the two strands completely separate is known as the melting temperature (Tm). Each specific sequence has a different melting point.
  • A C-G pair has three hydrogen bonds, thus the DNA sample with the higher melting point in B must include more C-G.
  • Every amino acid in every protein in every creature is encoded by the bases that make up the DNA molecule.

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Types of DNA

The bulk of the DNA in eukaryotic species, which include animals, plants, and fungi, is kept in the cell nucleus, although some DNA is kept in organelles like the mitochondria. Depending on the site, DNA might be:

Nuclear DNA

  • Situated in eukaryotic cells' nuclei.
  • Has typically two copies in each cell.
  • Nuclear DNA chromosomes have a linear, open-ended shape with 46 chromosomes containing 3 billion nucleotides.
  • Nuclear DNA is diploid and often contains DNA from both parents. Nuclear DNA mutation rates are under 0.3%.

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Mitochondrial DNA

  • The mitochondria contain mitochondrial DNA.
  • 100–1,000 copies are present in each cell.
  • Human mitochondrial DNA chromosomes include 16,569 nucleotides and often have closed, circular shapes.
  • The mother is the only source of mitochondrial DNA, which is haploid.
  • Nuclear DNA often has a mutation rate lower than mitochondrial DNA.

Ribonucleic acid(RNA)

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is an essential biological macromolecule that aids in translating genetic information encoded by DNA into proteins. RNA has unique structural properties, yet it is similar to DNA. The molecule has intra-strand pairing and is single-stranded. A wide variety of tertiary structures may also be formed by RNA, which likewise displays a substantial double helical helix.

RNA Structure

As opposed to DNA's 2'-deoxyribose, RNA's backbone comprises ribose. At its 2' position, ribose contains a hydroxyl group. Thymine in the DNA is replaced by uracil in the RNA. Except for the absence of a 5' methyl group in Uracil, uracil and thymine are structurally similar. Structurally, Thymine is 5'-Methyl-Uracil.

Types of RNA

It has been determined that prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms contain the three distinct forms of RNA needed to convert genetic material (DNA) into proteins. Genetic data are carried via messenger RNA (mRNA). The biological connection between mRNA and proteins is transfer RNA (tRNA). For the production of proteins, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is present in ribosomes.

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mRNA

  • The cell's mRNA makes up only 5% of the total RNA. In terms of size and base sequence, it is the most diverse of the three forms of RNA.
  • The mRNA is translated from DNA into a complementary single-stranded copy prepared for protein synthesis. An amino acid-specific codon, or triplet, is found in the mRNA. It consists of three nucleotides.
  • 64 unique triplets of four nucleotides encode twenty amino acids, the number of codons required to transcribe one amino acid.
  • Methionine is the amino acid located at the NH2 terminus of the protein chain, and the start codon AUG codes for this amino acid. Three codons are stop codons, meaning they don't encode amino acids.
  • In eukaryotes, guanosine triphosphate (GTP) at the 5' end of the mRNA signals its recognition during translation during post-transcriptional processing.

rRNA

  • A group of proteins and ribosomal RNA combine to make ribosomes.
  • It makes up 80% of all the RNA in the cell. The binding of amino acids forms a polypeptide chain as it travels along an mRNA molecule. The mRNA and individual aminoacyl-tRNAs are bound to the ribosome, the cell's most prevalent RNA protein complex, considerably increasing translation efficiency.
  • A ribosome comprises a big subunit (the 50S) and a small subunit (30S), structured to include various rRNA molecules and more than 50 proteins. The big subunit also contains an additional RNA.

tRNA

  • The smallest of the three RNA kinds, tRNA has between 70 and 80 nucleotides. Since they transmit amino acids during protein synthesis, they are crucial for translation. As a result, tRNA is short for transfer RNA.
  • Each tRNA has a unique binding site for the 20 amino acids transferred to the extending polypeptide chain, therefore there are at least 20 distinct tRNAs.
  • Base pairing is carried out by hydrogen bonding while the tRNA reads the mRNA codon by its anticodon. In addition to the conventional 4, they often contain a few uncommon bases created when they are methylated.

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Difference Between DNA and RNA

DNA RNA
DNA is a long polymer and has a deoxyribose and phosphate backbone. RNA is a polymer that consists of phosphate and ribose backbone
It has four bases: thymine, adenine, cytosine, and guanine It has four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
DNA is located in the nucleus of a cell and mitochondria. RNA is found in the cytoplasm, ribosome, and nucleus.
DNA has 2-deoxyribose RNA has ribose
Transmitting genetic information is one of DNA's functions. Long-term storage is made possible by DNA. The genetic information required for protein synthesis must be transferred from the nucleus to the ribosome, which requires RNA.
DNA is self-replicating. RNA cannot replicate by itself and is synthesised from DNA when required.
DNA has base pairing as GC(Guanine-Cytosine) and AT(Adenine-Thymine). RNA has base pairs such as GC(Guanine-Cytosine) and AU(Adenine-Uracil).
DNA is more stable than RNA and is more stable under alkaline conditions. Alkaline environments make RNA unstable.
DNA is vulnerable to Ultraviolet light. RNA is more resistant to Ultraviolet light than DNA.

 Difference Between DNA and RNA FAQs

What function is served by RNA and DNA?

The two forms of nucleic acids that store genetic information—deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)—are read by cells to produce the RNA and proteins that enable living things to function. The well-known double helix structure of DNA makes it possible to reproduce and transmit this information to the next generation.

What role does RNA play primarily?

The primary function of RNA is to produce peptides via translation. Genetic information is carried by RNA, which ribosomes then convert into a variety of proteins needed for cellular processes. mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA are the three main RNA subtypes involved in the synthesis of proteins.

Where is RNA found?

The ribosome is formed in the nucleus before moving into the cytoplasm to join forces with other proteins. The complex structured transfer RNA (tRNA) is found in the cytoplasm. It is responsible for moving amino acids from the cytoplasm to the ribosome surface to be put together into proteins as the mRNA instructs.

Where is DNA found?

Most DNA exists in the cell nucleus, which is called nuclear DNA, but a tiny quantity of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria, referred to as mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA. Mitochondria are cell organelles that transform dietary energy into forms cells can utilise.
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