In this article, I’m going to share with you, all the differences between rna and dna. the main difference between RNA Vs DNA.
What are the main differences between rna and dna?
Say you want to know what’s the difference between dna and rna? Before we start, let’s remember that both these acronyms stand for Ribonucleic Acid and Deoxyribonucleic Acid respectively, so it’s reasonable to assume that both these molecules have something in common.
However, when we take a closer look at what are the differences between rna and dna, there are quite some interesting differences between them.
what is dna mean?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains our genetic code, or blueprint for life. It’s made up of two chains that twist around each other to form a double helix.
The information contained in our genes determines everything from eye color to blood type, as well as diseases we may be predisposed to develop, such as cancer.
what is rna mean?
Many people know that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule found in all living cells. What many don’t know is that there’s another type of nucleic acid, ribonucleic acid (RNA), which acts as an intermediary molecule between DNA and proteins in our cells.
This primer will help you understand what it means when someone says they want to read your genes. The genetic material inside of each cell can be broken down into two different categories: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Both have very important functions within each cell. These molecules hold information about how we look, how we act, how our body works – even how we think! As complex as these structures are.
The Structure of DNA
- In a double helix, two strands of DNA wrap around each other. Each strand is made up of many nucleotides.
- Nucleotides are made up of three parts: a sugar molecule (ribose), a phosphate group, and one of four bases—adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) or thymine (T). Adenine always pairs with thymine; cytosine always pairs with guanine.
The Characteristics of RNA
Also known as ribonucleic acid, RNA is similar to DNA in that it is a nucleic acid polymer (made up of nucleotides) that has a specific structure.
To differentiate between RNA and DNA, you need to understand what each of them does for living organisms. Because of their similarity, many people confuse these two substances.
The main difference is that, unlike DNA, only certain types of RNAs can act as catalysts for protein synthesis.
Also read: Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells.
Differences in Function Between RNA and DNA
- Location of transcription – as opposed to being located in a nucleus, both messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) are transcribed on ribosomes in either prokaryotes or eukaryotes.
- The presence of introns vs exons – exons only make up 3% of human DNA, but they make up 80% of mRna.
- Presence of poly-A tail vs no poly-A tail – mRNA has a poly-A tail that is added during maturation, whereas genomic DNA does not have a poly-A tail 4.
conclusion
The major difference between RNA and DNA is their use. While both can be used as a genetic code to create proteins, only DNA is used in a cell’s reproductive cycle. When we refer to our genetics, we usually mean our inherited code from our parents that makes us who we are today. Your hair color, eye color, sex, and any health conditions you may have all come from your genes.