1. DNA and RNA have very similar names. What difference in their structure gives them their unique names?
2. Summarize the difference in the definitions of DNA and RNA.
3. Read the function of DNA and RNA. Come up with an analogy to help remember their differences (but relatedness) in function.
4. Where can DNA be found in the cell? Where can RNA be found?
5. Look at the pictures of DNA and RNA. Name 2 differences and 2 similarities.
1. The main difference in the structure of DNA and RNA lies in their sugar molecules. DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar.
2. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a double-stranded molecule that stores and transmits genetic information. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a single-stranded molecule that helps in protein synthesis and carries genetic instructions.
3. An analogy to remember the differences in the function of DNA and RNA could be likening them to a blueprint and a construction worker respectively. DNA acts like a blueprint, providing the instructions for building and maintaining an organism, while RNA is like a construction worker, using those instructions to create proteins and carry out various cellular functions.
4. DNA can be found in the cell's nucleus, packed into structures called chromosomes. RNA, on the other hand, can be found in various parts of the cell, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
5. Two differences between DNA and RNA are:
- DNA is double-stranded, whereas RNA is single-stranded.
- DNA contains the nitrogenous base thymine, while RNA contains uracil instead.
Two similarities between DNA and RNA are:
- Both are nucleic acids composed of nucleotides.
- Both contain adenine, cytosine, and guanine as common nitrogenous bases.