What is a characteristic of RNA compared to DNA?

What is a characteristic of RNA compared to DNA?

• A. RNA is double-stranded
• B. RNA contains deoxyribose sugar
• C. RNA is typically involved in protein synthesis
• D. RNA has more helical forms

Answer: (C)

RNA is typically involved in protein synthesis, which is a fundamental function that distinguishes it from DNA. While DNA stores and transfers genetic information, RNA plays a crucial role in the process of translating that information into proteins. This occurs through various forms of RNA, including messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic code from the DNA to the ribosomes where proteins are synthesized, and transfer RNA (tRNA), which brings amino acids to the ribosome during this synthesis process. This pivotal role in protein synthesis underscores RNA's importance in cellular function and gene expression, highlighting its dynamic nature in comparison to the more static role of DNA in genetic information storage. The other choices involve characteristics that do not differentiate RNA effectively from DNA: RNA is typically single-stranded, contains ribose sugar rather than deoxyribose, and while RNA can have various secondary structures, the statement about having more helical forms is less relevant compared to its role in protein synthesis.

RNA is typically involved in protein synthesis, which is a fundamental function that distinguishes it from DNA. While DNA stores and transfers genetic information, RNA plays a crucial role in the process of translating that information into proteins. This occurs through various forms of RNA, including messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic code from the DNA to the ribosomes where proteins are synthesized, and transfer RNA (tRNA), which brings amino acids to the ribosome during this synthesis process.

This pivotal role in protein synthesis underscores RNA's importance in cellular function and gene expression, highlighting its dynamic nature in comparison to the more static role of DNA in genetic information storage. The other choices involve characteristics that do not differentiate RNA effectively from DNA: RNA is typically single-stranded, contains ribose sugar rather than deoxyribose, and while RNA can have various secondary structures, the statement about having more helical forms is less relevant compared to its role in protein synthesis.