DNA is double stranded while RNA is a single stranded polynucleotide chain. In DNA the pentose sugar is deoxyribose (one less oxygen containing hydroxyl group) and in RNA it is ribose. In DNA the four bases are Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C) and Thymine (T). In RNA instead of Thymine the fourth base is Uracil (U). Other answers could also be:DNA is much longer than RNA. DNA replicates and stores the genetic code (information) while RNA converts (and builds) the genetic information to build proteins.