How do DNA and RNA differ?

Answer 1

DNA = Deoxyribonucleic Acid
RNA = Ribonucleic Acid

Both DNA and RNA are composed of repeating units of nucleotides. Each
nucleotide consists of a sugar, a phosphate and a nucleic acid base.
The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose. The sugar in RNA is ribose, the same
as deoxyribose but with one more OH (oxygen-hydrogen atom combination
called a hydroxyl). This is the biggest difference between DNA and RNA.
Another difference is that RNA molecules can have a much greater variety
of nucleic acid bases. DNA has mostly just 4 different bases with a few
extra occasionally. The difference in these bases (between DNA and RNA)
allows RNA molecules to assume a wide variety of shapes and also many
different functions. DNA, on the other hand, serves as a set of directions
and that's about all (but that's absolutely necessary!)

Answer 2

DNA and RNA both have a sugar - phosphate backbone and a protruding basic group. In DNA the sugar is deoxyribose, in RNA it's ribose. The first answerer covered the difference in sugars. There are four major basic groups that occur in DNA; adenine, thymine guanine and cytosine. In RNA uracil occurs instead of thymine but RNA also contains cytosine, guanine and adenine (in common with DNA). Either molecule can be double stranded or single stranded. Double stranded RNA is pretty rare, occurring in a class of viruses, all other organisms known have double stranded DNA as their genetic basis. Single stranded RNAs are very common as mRNA, tRNA, etc.

Answer 3

DNA contains genetic information as well as being double stranded and contains the sugar, deoxyribose. DNA is just like a manual or an instruction book.
RNA is mostly single stranded except for dsRNA which is a double-stranded RNA and contains the sugar ribose. RNA also transfers and decodes the genetic information in the DNA as tRNA and mRNA.

Answer 4

DNA contains 4 different nucleotides, the orders of which in groups of three, code for specific amino acids-which in turn join up to make proteins. DNA contains Adenosine, Thymidine, Cytosine, and Guanisine (look them up and check the spelling, it's been a few years for me).

RNA also contains 4, but one of them is Uracil (and I apologize, but I can't recall which of the A, G, T, or C the U replaces).

Answer 5

I would like to add that DNA contains the instructions for protein synthesis, a process mediated by mRNA and tRNA.