Eli5: what is the difference between/the relationship between RNA and DNA?
In: 8
Relationship:
DNA is the progenitor of RNA. Like others have stated, RNA is like a functional copy of DNA.
Differences:
DNA does not leave the nucleus in an active cell. RNA leaves the nucleus once it is synthesised to do other things in the cytosol.
DNA is double-stranded (i.e. complementary pairs are bonded to each other. Think of magnets attracting at their poles). RNA is single-stranded.
DNA is [deoxy]ribonucleic acid. RNA is ribonucleic acid. This means, literally, that DNA’s sugar structure has 1 fewer Oxygen molecule bound to its 2nd Carbon.
DNA contains Thymine as a nucleobase while RNA contains Uracil. When DNA is transcribed to RNA, any Ts from DNA will appear as Us in RNA.
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