S.N.

CHARACTER DNA RNA

1 Full form Deoxyribonucleic acid Ribonucleic acid

2 Location DNA is found in the nucleus, RNA forms in the nucleolus, and
with a small amount of DNA also then moves to specialized regions of
present in mitochondria the cytoplasm depending on the type
of RNA formed
3 Structure Long, ladder-like macromolecule In contrast to the double helix
that twists to form a double helix structure of DNA, RNA is generally
single stranded
4 Helix Geometry The helix geometry of DNA is of The helix geometry of RNA is of α-
β-form form

5 Nucleotides Each DNA nucleotide contains Contains the nitrogenous base uracil
one of four nitrogenous bases, in place of thymine
abbreviated A (adenine), G
(guanine), T (thymine), or C
(cytosine)

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 6 Chain of Nucleotides Long chain of nucleotides Relatively short chains

7 Sugar DNA contains deoxyribose sugar Contains a different sugar (ribose

rather than deoxyribose) in its
nucleotides
8 Base Pairs Adenine and Thymine pair (A-T) Adenine and Uracil pair (A-U)
Cytosine and Guanine pair (C-G) Cytosine and Guanine pair (C-G)

9 Ratio of Bases In case of DNA: In case of RNA:

Adenine = Thymine Adenine ≠ Thymine
Guanine = Cytosine Guanine ≠ Cytosine
10 Molecular Weight 2 to 6 million 25,000 to 2 million

11 Number For a particular species, the The number of RNA may differ
DNA number remains constant from cell to cell
for every cell
12 Molecule DNA does not usually exist as a RNA may exist as a single molecule
single molecule, but instead as a
tightly-associated pair of
molecules
13 Propagation DNA is self-replicating RNA is synthesized from DNA on
an as-needed basis

14 Major enzyme involved in DNA polymerase RNA polymerase

propagation

15 Need of Primer Primer necessary to initiate No primer is needed for RNA

replication

16 Proof-reading activity Present Absent since RNA polymerase lacks

17 Polymer length DNA is a much longer polymer
than RNA. A chromosome, for
example, is a single, long DNA
molecule, which would be
several centimetres in length
when unravelled
18 Leaving Nucleus DNA can’t leave the nucleus
the ability to detect errors of base
pairing
RNA molecules are variable in
length, but much shorter than long
DNA polymers. A large RNA
molecule might only be a few
thousand base pairs long
RNA leaves the nucleus (mRNA)

19 Complementary Forms Complementary forms are mostly RNA strand can form
between two DNA strands complementary structures with
strands of either DNA or RNA

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20 Destruction and re-use DNA is completely protected by RNA strands are continually made,
the body i.e. the body destroys broken down and reused
enzymes that cleave DNA
21 Hydrolyzing enzyme DNase RNase

22 Function •Storing genetic information •Transferring genetic information

•Directs protein synthesis from the DNA to proteins
•Determines genetic coding •Carrying it outside the nucleus
•Directly responsible for •Translating it to proteins
metabolic activities, evolution,
heredity, and differentiation
23 Role as Genetic Material In all organisms other than Very rarely (in some viruses)
certain viruses

24 Versatility and Usefulness
25 Stability
26 Ultraviolet (UV) Sensitivity
More stable and holds more
complex information for longer
periods of time
Due to its deoxyribose sugar,
which contains one less oxygen-
containing hydroxyl group, DNA
is a more stable molecule than
RNA. DNA is stable under
alkaline conditions
DNA is vulnerable to damage by
ultraviolet light
RNA is more versatile than DNA,
capable of performing numerous,
diverse tasks in an organism
RNA, containing a ribose sugar, is
more reactive than DNA and is not
stable in alkaline conditions. RNA’s
larger helical grooves mean it is
more easily subject to attack by
enzymes
RNA is more resistant to damage
from UV light than DNA

27 Mutation Rate DNA’s mutation rate is relatively RNA’s mutation rate is relatively
lower higher

28 Unusual Bases Never May be present rearely

29 Rate of Renaturation After Relatively slower Quick

Melting

30 Types Nuclear DNA Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Mitochondrial DNA Transfer RNA (tRNA)
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
hnRNA •snRNA •snoRNA •
miRNA • siRNA