RNA and DNA
RNA and DNA are built from very similar molecules. The two main differences are the uracil (RNA) and thymine (DNA) bases, and the chemical structure of the sugars, deoxyribose and ribose. The only difference between the sugars is that deoxyribose lacks an oxygen atom on the second carbon in the ring; hence the name deoxyribose.
The following table summarizes the resulting differences between RNA and DNA
| Terms | DNA | RNA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominant Structure | Double-stranded | Single-stranded | ||
| Bases | A, T, C, G | A, U, C, G | ||
| Sugar | Deoxyribose | Ribose | ||
| Stability | Less reactive | More reactive | ||
| Hydroxyl group | No hydroxyl group in second carbon | Hydroxyl group in second carbon | ||
| Phosphate backbone | Yes | Yes | ||
| Place | Nucleus | Nucleus and cytoplasm |