There are several differences and similarities between DNA and RNA. Which of the
ID: 17705 • Letter: T
Question
There are several differences and similarities between DNA and RNA. Which of the following statements is false?
Choose one answer.
(a) DNA has a pentose sugar, fructose, while RNA has a pentose sugar, ribose.
(b) The nitrogenous bases of DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G): the nitrogenous bases of RNA are adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
(c) DNA forms a two-stranded double helix, while RNA is usually single stranded.
(d) Both DNA and RNA are nucleic acids.
None of the above, all the statements are true.
Explanation / Answer
(a) DNA has a pentose sugar, fructose, while RNA has a pentose sugar, ribose. The main difference between DNA and RNA is the sugar present in the molecules. While the sugar present in a RNA molecule is ribose, the sugar present in a molecule of DNA is deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is the same as ribose, except that the former has one more OH.