Which option correctly describes a key structural difference between DNA and RNA?

• A. DNA and RNA both contain deoxyribose and use thymine as their pyrimidine base.
• B. DNA contains ribose sugar while RNA contains deoxyribose sugar, but both use thymine instead of uracil.
• C. DNA is typically double-stranded and contains deoxyribose and thymine, whereas RNA is typically single-stranded and contains ribose and uracil.
• D. DNA is typically single-stranded and contains ribose and uracil, whereas RNA is typically double-stranded and contains deoxyribose and thymine.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the sugar component in DNA and RNA: DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar. This difference affects the stability and structure of the nucleic acids.
2. Examine the nitrogenous bases present in DNA and RNA: DNA uses thymine as one of its pyrimidine bases, whereas RNA uses uracil instead of thymine.
3. Consider the strand structure of DNA and RNA: DNA is typically double-stranded forming a double helix, while RNA is usually single-stranded.
4. Combine these key differences to distinguish DNA from RNA: DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose sugar and thymine, whereas RNA is single-stranded with ribose sugar and uracil.
5. Use this understanding to evaluate the given options and select the one that correctly describes these structural differences.