which is heavier in weight in mammals, DNA or RNA?

Question

In terms of total weight inside the cell, that is

Answer 1

The DNA has 2 strands, while the RNA has only one. RNA is the molecule that performs copy of the DNA, and since DNA is using paired bases, only one is really needed to make a "template" to produce another DNA strand, which will then be mated up with other bases to create a complete, double strand DNA chain.

Answer 2

OH MY GOODNESS, I just fainted...


Of course mammals have RNA, they're the link between DNA and protein, you have no idea the enormity you just said...


I would guess the mass of DNA is higher in a given cell. Because, you see, the entire genome is present in every cell whereas only a portion of it is transcribed into RNA. Also, there is a lot of RNA turnover in the cell, ie. it gets destroyed once it is used. The correct amount of RNA would be hard to guess but definitely more DNA than RNA (it's a guess)

Answer 3

Well, It depends on the cell, the growth conditions and a number of other factors, but for some bacterial cells, there is ~100 fg of RNA (this is an approximate average from http://mic.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/150/5/1413) and there is going to be a single genome of DNA (4.64Mb http://www.hgsc.bcm.tmc.edu/projects/microbial/EcoliDH10B/(
Each base weighs 660 g/mole, so a single genome (on molecule of 660g/base) is
(4.64 X 10^6 bases * 660g/mole base) *mole/6 X 10^23 molecules/
= ~5 X 10^-15 grams of DNA per cell
= 5 fg of DNA per cell

So, in a fast growing E. coli cell there are about 100 fg of RNA and 5 fg of DNA, so more RNA

Answer 4

Well, if I'm not mistaken, mammals only have DNA. RNA is usually found in lower life forms and viruses.

Answer 5

I would say that there was more RNA in mass than DNA. RNA's include that found in ribosomes, tRNA's, mRNA's, sRNA's and hnRNA's.

Answer 6

DEOXIRIBOSE NUCLIEC ACID IS HEAVIER 3MILLION BASE BP INA SINGLE CELL

Answer 7

DNA....