Activity 1

Getting to Know the DNA and

RNA Structure

Objective:Compare the

structures of the DNA and RNA

Objective:
Compare the structures of the DNA and
RNA molecule
Procedure:
1. Read the given information carefully about
DNA and RNA.
Component molecules
1.The DNA molecule is composed of three
types of component molecule: phosphate
group, the sugar deoxyribose, and the bases
adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine (A, T, C,
G).
 Nucleotides
There are three
molecules that form the
basic building block of
DNA, the nucleotides.
Each nucleotide is
composed of one
phosphate group, one
sugar molecule, and one
of the four bases – in the
example. Across the
strands of the helix, A
always pairs with T, and
G with C.
Ribonucleic Acid, like DNA, is a
nucleic acid. However, RNA
structure differs from DNA structure
in three ways, shown in Figure 2.
First, RNA is single stranded –
whereas DNA is double stranded.
Second, the sugar in RNA is
ribose; DNA has deoxyribose.
Finally, both DNA and RNA contain
four nitrogenous bases, but instead
of thymine, RNA contains a similar
base called uracil (U). The uracil
pairs with adenine. The major types
of RNA include: messenger RNA
(mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA),
and transfer RNA (tRNA).
 2. Fill in the comparison table
below.
Basis of DNA RNA
Comparison
1. Number of
strands
2. Location in
the cell
3. Type of sugar
4. Nitrogenous
base pair
Guide Questions:
Q1. What are the components of the DNA and RNA
molecule?

Q2. What is the structural difference between DNA

and RNA?

Q3. What nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not

in DNA?
A DNA is a double helix molecule
composed of complementary strands of
deoxyribonucleotides units. The
complementary base pairs of the DNA are
held by hydrogen bonds.

RNA is single stranded.

Examples of RNA types include:

mRNA, rRNA and tRNA.
In DNA, adenine always bonds with
thymine, and cytosine bonds with
guanine. In RNA, adenine bonds with
uracil, and cytosine bonds with
guanine.
DNA Replication