Which molecule is found in both DNA and RNA?

• A. Deoxyribose
• B. Thymine
• C. Adenine
• D. Uracil

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by identifying the components of DNA and RNA. DNA is composed of a sugar-phosphate backbone and four nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. RNA is composed of a similar sugar-phosphate backbone but has adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine as its bases.
2. Recognize that both DNA and RNA share three of the four nitrogenous bases: adenine, cytosine, and guanine. Thymine is unique to DNA, while uracil is unique to RNA.
3. Focus on the shared bases between DNA and RNA. Adenine is one of the bases that is present in both DNA and RNA, making it a common molecule between the two.
4. Understand the role of adenine in nucleic acids. Adenine pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA during the process of base pairing, which is crucial for the structure and function of these molecules.
5. Conclude that adenine is the molecule found in both DNA and RNA, as it is a shared nitrogenous base between the two types of nucleic acids.