Title - Discuss the Diversity of RNA in compare to DNA

Name - Noor-E-Khadiza Shama

ID – 1921168

While DNA is the blueprint of life, RNA helps to carry out the blueprint’s guideline by
transferring genetic code from nucleus to ribosome. Unlike DNA whose prime function is to
carry the genetic code, RNA plays a diverse function inside a cell from transferring the code to
acting as an enzyme. As diversified as its function, RNA has a variety of types each of which
carry a specific function. The following is a table to comparison the DNA and RNA.

Comparison DNA RNA

Structure and composition It is a double stranded It is a single stranded

molecule where each strand is molecule where the strand is
made of nucleotides. In the made of nucleotides. In the
nucleotide, there is a nucleotide, there is a ribose
deoxyribose sugar, a sugar, a phosphate group and
phosphate group and a a nitrogenous base. The bases
nitrogenous base. The bases can be adenine, uracil,
can be adenine, thymine, guanine ,cytosine
guanine , cytosine

Helix Geometry Helical geometry of DNA is Helical geometry of RNA is

B-form A-form

Function The key function of DNA is Unlike DNA, RNA has a

to store genetic information, variety of roles like, mRNA
some parts of the DNA also transfers genetic code from
play roles in gene regulation. nucleus to the ribosome,

length DNA is as much long as 2.3
m in human having 46
chromosome.
Number The DNA number remains
constant for every cell
Location DNA is present in the nucleus RNA is found inside nucleus,
and also inside some
organelles like mitochondria
and chloroplast
Ultraviolet sensitivity DNA is vulnerable to damage
by ultraviolet light.  damage from UV light than
Propagation DNA is self-replicating
Mutation rate Relatively low mutation rate
Types Chromosomal DNA (nuclear
DNA), extrachromosomal
DNA like plasmid DNA, mt-
DNA, chl-DNA
tRNA brings amino acid,
rRNA is found in ribosome
and so on
RNA in comparison is much
shorter and diversified.
mRNA can be as long as
4000 to 12000 nucleotide and
tRNA is 70 to 96 nucleotide.
The number of RNA may
differ from cell to cell
cytoplasm and inside
organelles like ribosome,
mitochondria and chloroplast.
RNA is more resistant to
DNA
RNA is synthesized from
DNA
Mutation rate is relatively
higher.
Messenger RNA, transfer
RNA, Ribosomal RNA, small
nuclear RNA, nucleolar
RNA, small interfering RNA,
heteronuclear RNA, catalytic
RNAs/ribozymes, telomerase
 RNA and guide RNA

One of the key reasons why RNA is much more diverse is that RNA has a huge variety each with
a different function whereas DNA lacks such variation.

Types of DNA

 Chromosomal DNA – it consists the DNA within the nucleus of the eukaryotes or the
DNA within the nucleoid of the prokaryotes. Here the DNA is found in a densely packed
state forming coils and supercoils using histones.
 Extrachromosomal DNA- it is any DNA found in a cell other than chromosomal DNA.
Plasmid is a form of extrachromosomal DNA which is self-replicating. Others include the
DNA found in organelles like chloroplast and mitochondria. All DNA carry genes coding
which may code for RNAs and proteins.

Types of RNA

 mRNA- they carry transformative codes of amino acid sequence from DNA to
ribosome.
 tRNA – they play major role in translation of mRNA where they bring specific
amino acid to form the polypeptide chain.
 rRNA – rRNA along with protein forms the ribosome for protein synthesis
 snRNA- they form snRNPs which is involved in removing introns from mRNA
during post transcriptional modification
 snoRNA- they are involved in the site specific rRNA modification, which involves
maturation and assembly
 miRNA- they play regulatory role by targeting specific mRNAs for degradation or
translation repression
 siRNA- also known as silencing RNA is a double stranded non-coding RNA
molecule whish plays part in silencing genes
 telomerase RNA – the enzyme telomerase which is involved in the replication of
eukaryotic telomeres, is composed of an RNA molecule and protein subunit.
 gRNA- it guides RNA needed for RNA editing, that is removal and insertion of
bases into mRNA