Skip to main content
What Are the Similarities between DNA and RNA?

Answer – DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids, possess four nitrogenous bases, have a sugar-phosphate backbone, are negatively charged, and are involved in the process of protein synthesis.

Explanation: 

DNA and RNA are nucleic acids composed of nucleotide units, each containing a phosphate group, a sugar molecule (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA), and nitrogenous bases (adenine, cytosine, and guanine common in both, whereas thymine and uracil are unique to DNA and RNA, respectively). These nitrogenous bases form specific complementary base pairs (cytosine [C] pairs with guanine [G]). 

Both DNA and RNA are biopolymers responsible for genetic processes such as DNA replication and RNA transcription. DNA is responsible for encoding the genetic instructions for an organism’s traits, while RNA is involved in protein synthesis (mRNA), carries out enzymatic functions, and plays regulatory roles. Thus, they are equally involved in the storage and transfer of genetic information and the regulation of gene expression.

A diagram showcasing the structure and nitrogenous bases of DNA and RNA
DNA and RNA have common bases such as adenine, cytosine, and guanine.
Image credit: Sponk / Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)

SHOW MORE TEXTBOOK SOLUTIONS+