What structural component is found in DNA but not in RNA?

2 Answers
May 29, 2018

Thymine.

Explanation:

Both DNA and RNA have four structural components. Three of the components are the same in both, but the fourth component is different. Where DNA has thymine, RNA has uracil.

DNA: #color(red)"adenine"#, #color(orange)"cytosine"#, #color(green)"guanine"#, #color(blue)"thymine"#
RNA: #color(red)"adenine"#, #color(orange)"cytosine"#, #color(green)"guanine"#, #color(purple)"uracil"#

So the structural component that is found in DNA but not in RNA is thymine.

May 29, 2018

Deoxyribose sugar, too.

Explanation:

Also a 2H instead of a 2OH. DNA is 2deoxyribonucleic acid, so it contains a deoxyribose sugar (No OH on the 2 carbon....instead, an H). This is what makes DNA more stable than RNA. The 2`OH in RNA results in nucleophilic attack of the phosphodiester bond, and you end up with self hydrolysis!