Contrast the functions of DNA and RNA? Help please...= )
2006-11-12 03:51:40 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
DNA: the genetic material
RNA: is a copy of part of DNA that synthesize protein.
2006-11-12 03:54:51 · answer #1 · answered by BioProf 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It very much depends on the organism you are talking about. You should be able to research this in much more detail in ANY molecular biology, biochemistry or genetics textbook. If you are interested in function, rather than structure then the following should help...
DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is the material which is replicated in living creatures when they reproduce.
DNA is used as a template from which RNA is then produced. The RNA then mediates a number of functions within the cells. RNA can be replicated as well (e.g. by viruses), but for heredity, DNA is the molecule that is replicated.
RNA has a number of functions. DNA is copied into RNA. RNA can then act as a template from which proteins are then made by ribosomes in the cell (this kind of RNA is called mRNA, or messenger RNA). Proteins then carry out the majority of functions of the cell.
There are several other types of RNA. rRNA forms part of the ribosome machinery that translates mRNA to protein. tRNA provides a means for the ribosome to identify mRNA codons and to link that to aminoacid buildup in proteins.
Finally, there are two more recently discovered types of RNA, for which this year's Nobel prize was given. These are microRNAs and siRNAs (small interfering RNAs). These can suppress the expression of certain genes and are used by cells to control gene expression.
2006-11-12 13:15:57 · answer #2 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The major differences between DNA and RNA is that DNA is double standed, has thymine and has the sugar deoxyribose whereas RNA is usually single stranded, has uracil and has the sugar ribose. DNA copied into RNA which is used to generate mRNA that acts as message to make proteins. In eucaryotic organisms noncoding regions (introns) are spliced out and the coding regions (Exons) are spliced together to yeild mRNA.
2006-11-12 13:11:40 · answer #3 · answered by starfire1020 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid and holds all the genetic information of the cell. RNA stands for Ribonucleic acid and transfers information to the ribosomes to tell them to make the food for the cell.
2006-11-12 14:58:41 · answer #4 · answered by Smartees 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋