The structure of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, differ in that

Question

a
RNA's backbone is made up of phosphates, while DNA's backbone is made up of nitrates.
b
DNA contains a nucleotide with thymine, while RNA contains a nucleotide with uracil.
c
DNA's nucleotide sequence is single stranded, while RNA's nucleotide sequence is double stranded.
d
RNA contains only three different nucleotides, while DNA contains four different nucleotides.

Answer 1

The correct statement regarding the differences between the structure of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, is:

b. DNA contains a nucleotide with thymine, while RNA contains a nucleotide with uracil.

To clarify the other options:

a. Incorrect - Both RNA and DNA have a backbone made of a sugar (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA) and phosphate groups, not nitrates.

c. Incorrect - DNA is typically double-stranded, while RNA is usually single-stranded.

d. Incorrect - Both DNA and RNA are composed of four different nucleotides, but the nucleotides in RNA include adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, while DNA includes adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.

Thus, option b is the only accurate statement regarding the differences between DNA and RNA.