Consider the drawing of a dinucleotide below. Is it DNA or RNA?

Key Concepts

Nucleotide Structure

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, while in RNA, it is ribose. The presence of an additional hydroxyl group (-OH) on the ribose distinguishes RNA from DNA, which is crucial for identifying the type of nucleic acid.

Nitrogenous Bases

Nucleotides contain nitrogenous bases that are critical for the identity of DNA and RNA. DNA has four bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). In contrast, RNA replaces thymine with uracil (U). Recognizing these bases helps determine whether a dinucleotide is part of DNA or RNA.

Double vs. Single Stranded

DNA typically exists as a double-stranded helix, while RNA is usually single-stranded. This structural difference influences their functions and stability. When analyzing a dinucleotide, understanding whether it is part of a double or single strand can provide clues about its identity as DNA or RNA.