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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a key structural difference between RNA and DNA?
A
RNA is more stable than DNA under alkaline conditions.
B
RNA contains uracil instead of thymine.
C
RNA contains deoxyribose sugar while DNA contains ribose sugar.
D
RNA is double-stranded while DNA is single-stranded.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Begin by understanding the basic structural components of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, and RNA stands for ribonucleic acid.
Identify the sugar component in each nucleic acid. DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar. This is a key structural difference.
Examine the nitrogenous bases present in each nucleic acid. DNA contains adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. RNA contains adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine. Note that RNA uses uracil instead of thymine.
Consider the strand structure of each nucleic acid. DNA is typically double-stranded, forming a double helix, whereas RNA is usually single-stranded.
Evaluate the stability of each nucleic acid under different conditions. RNA is less stable than DNA under alkaline conditions due to the presence of ribose sugar, which has an additional hydroxyl group compared to deoxyribose.