Which statement best explains the chemical differences...

Name: Problem 80, Chapter 24: Chemistry The Central Science
Uploaded: 2020-01-14T08:32:26-08:00
Duration: 3 min 23 s
Channel: Aadit Sharma
Description: Which statement best explains the chemical differences between DNA and RNA? (a) DNA has two different sugars in its sugar-phosphate backbone, but RNA only has one. (b) Thymine is one of the DNA bases, whereas RNA's corresponding base is thymine minus a methyl group. (c) The RNA sugar-phosphate backbone contains fewer oxygen atoms than DNA's backbone. (d) DNA forms double helices but RNA cannot.

Which statement best explains the chemical differences between DNA and RNA? (a) DNA has two different sugars in its sugar-phosphate backbone, but RNA only has one. (b) Thymine is one of the DNA bases, whereas RNA's corresponding base is thymine minus a methyl group. (c) The RNA sugar-phosphate backbone contains fewer oxygen atoms than DNA's backbone. (d) DNA forms double helices but RNA cannot.

Key Concepts

Sugar Molecule Difference

One of the key differences between DNA and RNA is the type of sugar present in the nucleotide. DNA contains deoxyribose, which is missing an oxygen atom at the 2' position, while RNA contains ribose, which has an extra oxygen atom. This structural difference influences the overall stability and reactivity of the nucleic acids.

Helical Structure

DNA typically forms a stable double helical structure due to its complementary base pairing, which is central to its role in long-term genetic information storage. Although RNA is mostly single-stranded, it can fold into regions that form double helical structures, reflecting its versatile roles beyond just information storage.

Nucleic Acid Structure

Nucleic acids are polymers made of nucleotides, where each nucleotide comprises a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The chemical composition of these components determines the distinct physical and chemical properties of the molecules, making an understanding of their structure essential to differentiating between DNA and RNA.

Nitrogenous Base Variation

Another important difference lies in the nitrogenous bases. DNA uses the base thymine, which includes a methyl group, whereas RNA substitutes thymine with uracil, a molecule similar to thymine but lacking this methyl group. This substitution is crucial for the distinct functional roles and biochemical properties of DNA and RNA.

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