DNA and RNA are both types of nucleic acids and play crucial roles in storing and transmitting genetic information in living organisms. Here are the key differences between DNA and RNA:
1. Structure: DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single-stranded.
Sugar: DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose, while RNA contains the sugar ribose.
3. Bases: Both DNA and RNA are composed of nucleotides, which consist of a base, a sugar, and a phosphate group. DNA has four bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). RNA also has A, G, and C, but instead of thymine, it has uracil (U).
Function: DNA is the genetic material in all free-living organisms and stores the genetic information for the cell. RNA uses DNA to code for the structure of proteins and can act as a messenger between DNA molecules and the ribosomes.
Size: RNA molecules are generally smaller than DNA molecules. A DNA molecule in a human chromosome can be up to 250 million nucleotide-pairs long, while a large RNA molecule might only be a few thousand base pairs long.
In summary, DNA and RNA have different structures, different sugars and bases, and different functions in the cell. Despite these differences, both nucleic acids are essential for life and play important roles in storing and transmitting genetic information.

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