Eli5: what is the difference between/the relationship between RNA and DNA?

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Eli5: what is the difference between/the relationship between RNA and DNA?

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DNA and RNA are both very similar: they are long chains of genetic data. Like a computer stores data in 0s and 1s, they store it in A, C, G, T (or U; roughly the RNA version of DNA’s T). Those are certain relatively simple chemicals, which are arranged along a backbone along the DNA or RNA.

For making a copy, added stability in storage, and to avoid/detect errors in this code, this strand of bio-data can be paired with a second strand which has exactly opposite data (A<->T/U and C<->G oppose each other). DNA generally comes with such a partner and they are unraveled only when something happens to it. RNA can come in both versions (some posts here claim it does only appear single-stranded, which is wrong!).

Their structural difference is in said backbone. DNA’s one is more stable. This has advantages for long-term storage and stability, but also makes it a bit more difficult to read or write it. RNA, especially single-stranded one, is therefore almost always rather short, usually only a dozen to a few hundred of A, C, G, T/U.

In a DNA-based cell, RNA is usually for short-term copies to be sent to other parts of the same cell with instructions how to build stuff (proteins) from this instructions; the latter part is a very complex beast on its own, as is the copying mechanism. This RNA is always single-stranded and will dissolve soon. The dual version is usually only found in certain viruses, most are single-stranded though (e.g. covid-19).

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