Name: Samra Rollno.
18104008-006 Biochemistry-I, Submitted to Miss Ayesha Amjad
Assignment Topic: Difference between DNA and RNA
DNA
 DNA stands for deoxyribose nucleic acid.
 It is mostly found in nucleus and nucleoid.
 It carries the genetic information necessary
for the development, functioning and
reproduction.
 Deoxyribose is the sugar, where the bases are
A, T, C and G.
 It is a double stranded and exhibit’s the
double helical structure.
 Hydrogen bonds are formed between the
nitrogen bases on the opposite strands.
 It is stable and not hydrolyzed easily by
alkali.
 Its life time is high.
 DNA is only of two types, i-e intra
nuclear and extra nuclear.
 Its quantity is fixed for cell.
 It replicate to form new DNA molecules.
 DNA is self-replication.
 DNA molecules don’t synthesized
proteins, but transfer the coded message
for the synthesis of protein in the cell.
 DNA is susceptible to UV damage.
 Long term storage of the genetic
information and also transfer the genetic
information to make other cells and new
organisms.
 The C-H bonds in the DNA make it fairly
stable, plus the body destroys enzymes
that would attack DNA. The small
grooves in the helix also serve as
protection, providing minimal space for
enzymes to attach.
RNA
 RNA stands for ribose nucleic acid.
 It is mostly found in cytoplasm.
 It is mainly involved in the protein synthesis,
but sometimes it regulates the gene
expression.
 Ribose is the sugar, where the bases are A, U,
C and T.
 It is single stranded and sometimes it forms
secondary and tertiary structure.
 Base pairing through the hydrogen bonds take
place but only in the coil parts.
 It is unstable and hydrolyzed easily by the
alkali.
 It is short lived.
 RNA is of three type’s i-e messenger RNA,
ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA.
 Its quantity is variable for cell.
 It does not replicate itself.
 It is synthesized from DNA on a need basis
only.
 Proteins are synthesized by RNA molecules in
the cell, and it does not transfer the coded
message.
 RNA is resistant to the UV damage.
 Used to transfer the genetic code from the
nucleus to the ribosomes to make proteins. It
is used to transmit the genetic information in
some organisms.
 The O-H bonds in the ribose of RNA makes
the molecule more reactive, compared with a
DNA. RNA is not stable under the alkaline
conditions, plus the large grooves in the
molecules make it susceptible to the enzymes
attack. RNA is constantly, produced, used,
recycled and degraded.
 Figure 1: Basic Structure of DNA and RNA with their bases

Figure 2 Difference in structure of DNA and RNA

Reference:
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Biochemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Biochemistry)/1%3A_DN
A/1.2%3A_Structure_of_DNA_and_RNA