DNA vs. RNA – Differences and Comparison

 DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids found in living things and essential for life, but they have several differences:

Structure
DNA is double-stranded and forms a double helix, while RNA is usually single-stranded.

Size
DNA molecules are much longer than RNA molecules. A DNA molecule in a human chromosome can be up to 250 million nucleotide-pairs long, while most RNAs are no more than a few thousand nucleotides long.

Stability
DNA molecules are more stable than RNA molecules because they're tightly coiled up and kept in the nucleus of the cell. RNA molecules are less stable and can be broken down after use.

Sugar
DNA contains deoxyribose, while RNA contains ribose.

Bases
DNA bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). RNA base pairs include A, G, and C, but use uracil (U) instead of T.

Function
DNA is a repository of genetic information, while RNA is involved in protein synthesis and gene regulation.