Isolated RNA molecules are generally less stable than DNA at physiological pH because?

Question

A. RNA has ribose
B. RNU is always linear
C. RNA has U instead of T
D. RNA is usually single stranded
E. there are many more RNAse enzymes

Answer 1

My first answer would have been D, but in reality, i think the correct answer is A. RNA isn't truly single stranded, when it exists in a cell it becomes folded up, and hte single strand interacts with itself to form a 3-D shape. The answer is A, because ribose has an extra, free Hydroxyl group. Oxygen is a strong oxidizing agent, and so the extra Oxygen in ribose may contribute to it's instability, and also allows RNA to catalyze itself (as in mRNA processing in eukaryotes)

Answer 2

D. Being single stranded is less stable - no other side to help hold it together.

Think of a ladder that has been sawed up through the middle of the steps. That's RNA. DNA was the whole ladder with both sides.

Answer 3

D) RNA is a single strand...nothing to hold it together.

Answer 4

d.