The similarity of DNA and RNA.

Every living organism in our world is not like the others.They differ from each other not only people.Animals and plants of one species also have differences.The reason for this is not only a different habitat and life experience.The individuality of each organism is laid therein by the genetic material.

important and interesting question about the nucleic acids

Even before the birth of each organism has its own set of genes that determines everything structural features.This not only coat color or shape of the leaves, for example.The genes are laid and more important characteristics.After all, cats can not be born a hamster, and the seeds of wheat will not grow baobab.

And for all this vast amount of information meet the nucleic acids - DNA and RNA molecules.Their importance is difficult to overestimate.After all, they not only retain information throughout their lives, they help to implement it with the help of proteins, and in addition, transmit it to the next generation.How they do it, how di

fficult are the structure of DNA and RNA molecules?What they look like and what are their differences?In all this we will understand and in the following sections of the article.

All the information we dismantle piece by piece, starting with the basics.First, we find out what the nucleic acids as they were opened, and then talk about their structure and function.At the end of the article we are waiting for a comparative table of RNA and DNA, to which you can contact at any time.


nucleic acid Nucleic acid - is an organic compound having a high molecular weight, are polymers.In 1869 they were first described by Friedrich Miescher - biochemist from Switzerland.He identified a substance composed of phosphorus and nitrogen from the cells of pus.Assuming that it is only in the nuclei, the scientist called it nukleina.But what remains after the separation of proteins, nucleic acid has been called.

Its monomers are nucleotides.Their amount in the acid molecule individually for each species.Nucleotides are molecules composed of three parts:

  • monosaccharide (pentose), can be of two types - ribose and deoxyribose;
  • nitrogenous base (one of four);
  • phosphoric acid residue.

Next we look at the differences and similarities of DNA and RNA, the table at the end of the article will sum total.

avilable: pentose

very first similarity of DNA and RNA is that they contain monosaccharides.But for each acid they own.That is, depending on whether a pentose molecule, nucleic acid, divided by the DNA and RNA.The composition includes a deoxyribose DNA and RNA in the composition - ribose.Both pentose acids found in only in β-form.

In deoxyribose the second carbon atom (designated as 2 ') is no oxygen.Scientists believe that his absence:

  • shortens the link between C2 and C3;
  • makes the DNA molecule stronger;
  • creates conditions for compact packing of DNA in the nucleus.

comparing buildings: nitrogenous bases

Comparative characteristics of DNA and RNA - is not easy.But the differences can be seen from the very beginning.Nitrogenous base - is the most important "building blocks" in our molecules.They carry genetic information.More precisely, not the base, and their order in the chain.They are purine and pyrimidine.

composition of DNA and RNA is different at the level of monomers in the deoxyribonucleic acid can we meet adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine.But in the RNA contains uracil instead of thymine.

These five reasons are the main (major), they make up a large part of the nucleic acids.But apart from these, there are also others.This happens very rarely, such grounds are called minor.And those and others are found in both acids - this is another similarity of DNA and RNA.

sequence of nitrogenous bases (and correspondingly nucleotides) chain of DNA to determine which proteins can synthesize this cell.Which molecules are created at the moment depends on the needs of the organism.

Let us turn to the levels of organization of nucleic acids.To comparative characteristic of DNA and RNA to get the most complete and objective, we look at the structure of each.In the DNA of four, and the number of levels of the organization in RNA it depends on its type.

discovery of DNA structure, the principles of the structure

All organisms are divided into prokaryotes and eukaryotes.This classification is based on the design of the nucleus.Those and other DNA contained in the cell as chromosomes.This special structure in which molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid associated proteins.DNA has four levels of the organization.

primary structure is a chain of nucleotide sequence which is strictly observed for each organism and which are linked phosphodiester bonds.A huge success in the study of the structure of DNA chain reached Chargaff and his staff.They found that the ratio of nitrogen bases subject to certain laws.

They were called Chargaff rules.The first one states that the amount of purine bases must be equal to the amount of pyrimidine.It will become clear after reading the secondary structure of DNA.Because of its features, and the second rule should be: molar ratios of A / T and T / C equal to one.The same rule holds true for the second nucleic acid - that's another similarity of DNA and RNA.Only at the second place of thymine uracil is everywhere.

Also, many scientists began to classify the DNA of different species of more bases.If the amount of "A + T" more "G + C", such DNA is called AT-type.If on the contrary, we are dealing with a GC-type DNA.

secondary structure model was proposed in 1953 by scientists Watson and Crick, it is to this day is recognized.The model is a double helix, which consists of two antiparallel chains.The main characteristics of the secondary structure are:

  • composition of each strand of DNA is strictly specific to the species;
  • hydrogen bond between the chains, formed on the principle of complementarity of nitrogenous bases;
  • polynucleotide chains entwine with each other, forming a spiral pravozakruchennuyu called "Helix";
  • phosphoric acid residues are located outside of the spiral, nitrogenous bases - inside.

Further, denser, harder

tertiary structure of DNA - is superspiralizirovannaya structure.That is not enough that in the molecule the two chains are twisted with each other, for better compactness of DNA is wound on special proteins - histones.They are divided into five classes, depending on the content of lysine and arginine.

The latest level of DNA - chromosome.To understand how tightly it is stacked carrier of genetic information, consider the following: if the Eiffel Tower went through all the stages of compaction, like DNA, it could be placed in a matchbox.

chromosomes are single (consisting of one chromatid) and double (composed of two chromatids).They provide secure storage of genetic information, and if necessary, can turn around and open up access to the desired site.

Types of RNA structural features

addition, any RNA is different from the DNA of its primary structure (the absence of thymine, the presence of uracil), the following levels of the organization are also different:

  1. transfer RNA (tRNA) is a single-stranded molecule.To perform their function of transporting to the site of the amino acids in protein synthesis, it has a very unusual secondary structure.It is called a "cloverleaf".Each loop it performs its function, but the most important are the acceptor stem (it clings to an amino acid) and anticodon (which should coincide with the codon on the messenger RNA).The tertiary structure of tRNA little studied, because it is very difficult to identify a molecule without breaking the high level of organization.But some of the information the scientists there.For example, yeast transfer RNA is shaped L.
  2. Messenger RNA (also referred to as information) serves as information transfer from DNA to the site of protein synthesis.It tells what kind of protein will eventually move on it in the synthesis of ribosomes.Its primary structure - a single-stranded molecule.The secondary structure is very complex, it is necessary to determine the correct start of protein synthesis.mRNA formed as pins, which are located at the ends of the start and end portions of the processing of the protein.
  3. ribosomal RNA contained in the ribosomes.These organelles are composed of two subunits, each of which has its own rRNA.This nucleic acid determines the placement of ribosomal proteins and functional centers of this organelle.The primary structure of the rRNA represented by the sequence of nucleotides as in the previous versions acid.It is known that the final stage of installation is rRNA pairing end portions of the same chain.The formation of such petioles further contributes to the compaction of the entire structure.


DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid acts as a repository of genetic information.It is in its nucleotide sequence "hidden" all proteins in our body.In DNA, they not only kept, but also well protected.And even if an error occurs when copying, it will be corrected.Thus, the entire genetic material persists and reaches posterity.

order to convey information to descendants, the DNA has the capacity to double.This process is known as replication.Comparison table of RNA and DNA will tell us that another nucleic acid is not able to do so.But it has many other functions.

functions of RNA

Each type of RNA performs its functions:

  1. transfer ribonucleic acid delivers amino acids to the ribosomes, where proteins are made.tRNA brings not only a building material, it is also involved in the recognition of the codon.And from her job it depends on how well will be built protein.
  2. messenger RNA reads the DNA and moves it to the site of protein synthesis.There it is attached to the ribosome and dictates the order of amino acids in the protein.
  3. ribosomal RNA provides the structural integrity of the organelles, regulates all functional areas.

That's another similarity of DNA and RNA: they both take care of the genetic information, which carries a cell.

comparing DNA and RNA

To systematize all the information above, we write all of it to the table.

location in the cell The nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria The nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, ribosomes, cytoplasm
monomer deoxyribonucleotides ribonucleotides
structure double-stranded helix Single chain
Nucleotides A, T, G, C A, U, G, C
Features stable, capable of replication lability, could not double
functions storage and transmission of genetic information Transfer of genetic information (mRNA), the structure function (rRNA, mitochondrial RNA), participation in protein synthesis (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA)

So, we spoke briefly about what are the similarities of DNA and RNA.The table will be an indispensable tool in the exam or a simple reminder.

In addition we have learned earlier in the table were some of the facts.For example, the ability of the DNA double needed for cell division to correct both cells received genetic material in its entirety.While RNA doubling in no sense.If the cells need another molecule, it synthesizes on its DNA template.

Characterization of DNA and RNA to get a quick, but we have covered all the features of the structure and functions.Very interesting is the translation process - the synthesis of protein.After reading it becomes clear how RNA plays an important role in the life of the cell.A doubling of the DNA process is very exciting.That only is the tearing of the double helix and reading each nucleotide!

learn something new every day.Especially if this is a new happening in every cell of your body.