Multiple Choice
A hydroxyl group is present at the 3' end of the growing DNA strand. What functional group is typically found at the 5' end?
34. Nucleic Acids
Intro to Nucleic Acids
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
What is the primary structural difference between RNA and DNA?
A
RNA is double-stranded, while DNA is single-stranded.
B
RNA contains ribose sugar, while DNA contains deoxyribose sugar.
C
RNA has a phosphate backbone, while DNA does not.
D
RNA contains thymine, while DNA contains uracil.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the components of nucleic acids: Both RNA and DNA are nucleic acids composed of nucleotides, which include a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
Examine the sugar component: In RNA, the sugar is ribose, which has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 2' carbon. In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, which lacks the hydroxyl group at the 2' carbon, having only a hydrogen atom instead.
Understand the impact of the sugar difference: The presence of the hydroxyl group in ribose makes RNA more reactive and less stable compared to DNA, which is more stable due to the absence of this group.
Clarify the nitrogenous bases: RNA contains the bases adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U), while DNA contains adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
Summarize the primary structural difference: The key structural difference between RNA and DNA is the type of sugar present in their nucleotides—ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA.
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