Which of these accurately describes a difference between DNA and RNA?

• A. DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar.
• B. DNA is single-stranded, while RNA is double-stranded.
• C. DNA uses uracil as a base, while RNA uses thymine.
• D. DNA is found only in the cytoplasm, while RNA is found only in the nucleus.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the basic structure of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids composed of nucleotides, which include a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
2. Identify the sugar component: DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, whereas RNA contains ribose sugar. The difference is that deoxyribose lacks one oxygen atom compared to ribose.
3. Examine the strand structure: DNA is typically double-stranded, forming a double helix, while RNA is usually single-stranded.
4. Consider the nitrogenous bases: DNA uses adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine as its bases, whereas RNA uses adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine. Note the substitution of uracil in RNA for thymine in DNA.
5. Clarify the location within the cell: DNA is primarily located in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, while RNA can be found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, where it plays a role in protein synthesis.