What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is responsible for storing genetic information and is composed of a chain of nucleotides. Each nucleotide is formed by a nitrogen base, a phosphate backbone and a sugar. There are four bases, Guanine, Thymine, Cytosine and Adenine. DNA is also a double stranded molecule which forms a structural helix. This means the bases of two strands nucleotides connect, forming bridges between the two strands. These bridges only occur through specific combinations of bases. Guanine connects to Cytosine and Adenine connects to Thymine. Pairs of Guanine and Cytosine or Adenine and Thymine are called bases pairs. On the other hand, RNA, ribonucleic acid, is a single stranded molecule. RNA aids with protein synthesis and it is formed by the same components, except instead of Thymine it uses another base called Uracil.

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