RNA differs from DNA in several important ways, three of which are particularly significant:
- Structure: RNA is usually single-stranded, whereas DNA is double-stranded. This single-stranded nature allows RNA to fold into various shapes that can be important for its function in the cell.
- Sugar Component: The sugar in RNA is ribose, while the sugar in DNA is deoxyribose. The presence of an additional oxygen atom in ribose gives RNA different chemical properties compared to DNA.
- Base Composition: RNA contains uracil (U) as a nitrogenous base instead of thymine (T), which is found in DNA. This difference in base composition not only impacts the stability of the nucleic acids but also influences how they are involved in protein synthesis.
These differences mean that RNA plays distinct roles in cellular processes, particularly in the synthesis of proteins from genetic information carried by DNA.