The two most important molecules responsible for heredity are Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). They are responsible for some major functions like storage and accessing genetic information that exists during the complete life span. They are linear polymers that are made up of sugars, phosphates, and bases.
DNA vs RNA
The main difference between DNA and RNA is the components they contain. DNA has thymine, and RNA does not. In fact, it is consists of the nucleobase uracil. Also, DNA includes deoxyribose sugar that lacks one atom of oxygen. On the contrary, RNA involves ribose sugar with one extra oxygen atom. ‘Deoxyribonucleic Acid’ is the full form of DNA, whereas ‘Ribonucleic Acid’ is RNA.
DNA is the genomic material in the cell which stores the genetic information required for the development and functioning of all living organisms.
RNA is a cell’s essential regulatory player. Here, they catalyze biological reactions, control, and modulates gene expression, sensing, and communication.
They are made up of simpler units called nucleotides and are similar on a fundamental level. Though they belong to the same group of a molecule, they have chemical differences that lead to distinct functions as well.
Comparison Table Between DNA and RNA (in Tabular Form)
What is DNA?
DNA is a deoxyribonucleic acid, which is a hereditary component found in all living beings. It codes genetic information for the necessary transmission of inherited traits and other details.
DNA is like a blueprint of essential biological details that a living organism must follow to exist and remain functional.
DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell and is called nuclear DNA. A small amount of DNA is also present in mitochondria called the mtDNA or mitochondrial DNA.
Within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, there are structures made up of DNA called chromosomes.
DNA is made up of two long polymers that are made up of nucleotides. The key elements of DNA are made up of sugars and phosphate groups that are joined by ester bonds.
It has two strands running in the opposite directions and is thus anti-parallel.
There are four bases, namely Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine, whose sequence is encoded along the backbone of DNA.
The information stored in DNA is coded in a sequence of pieces of it, which are called genes.
A human genome has around 3 billion pairs of double-helix DNA structures arranged into 46 chromosomes.
What is RNA?
RNA is Ribonucleic acid, which is a complex compound that functions in cellular protein synthesis. It is another macromolecule which is necessary for the existence of all living forms.
They are essential to a cell as they catalyze biological reactions. They control and regulate genes as well as carry on communication among the cells.
The chemical foundation of RNA is pretty similar to DNA. It is made up of nucleotide which consists of a nucleobase, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate group.
RNA is composed of nucleo-bases like Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Uracil, whose chemical sequences store genetic codes.
Unlike DNA, RNA has a single-stranded structure which is capable of adopting very complex three-dimensional structures.
They are synthesized from DNA as per the requirement. Depending on its type, RNA is found in a cell’s nucleus and it’s cytoplasm and its ribosomes.
Main Differences Between DNA and RNA
- DNA is a double-stranded helix structure with long chains of nucleotides. Whereas, RNA molecules are single-stranded helix structures with shorter chains of nucleotides.
- The bases present in DNA are Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine. RNA also shares the same bases, but instead of Thymine is contains Uracil.
- DNA is a self-replicating molecule, whereas RNA is synthesized from DNA as per the requirement.
- DNA is susceptible to UV damage, while RNA is rather resistant to it.
- DNA has a long life span and is present in fixed quantities. However, RNAs are comparatively short-lived and are present in variable amounts.
Conclusion
DNA and RNA are the two types of nucleic acids that are essential for the storage and articulation of genetic data in organisms.
They have a similar fundamental origin but different chemical and functional orientations.
They together allow the decoding of genetic information during protein synthesis by the process of transcription and translation.
They can store the hereditary details for a really long period of time without any changes in the genetic constitution of the organism.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003269766900121
- https://academic.oup.com/nar/article-abstract/5/9/3337/2380903
- https://science.sciencemag.org/content/240/4858/1520.short