Question

When RNA is hydrolysed, there is no relationship among the quantities of different bases obtained. What does this fact suggest about the structure of RNA?

Answer 1

A DNA molecule has two strands in which the four complementary bases pair with each other, i.e., cytosine (C) always pairs with guanine (G), while thymine (T) always pairs with adenine (A). Thus, when a DNA molecule is hydrolysed, the molar amount of cytosine is always equal to that of guanine and that of adenine is always equal to thymine. In RNA, there is no relationship between the quantities of four bases (C, G, A and U) obtained; therefore, the base pairing principle, i.e., (A) pairs with (U) and (C) pairs with (G), is not followed. Therefore, unlike DNA, RNA has a single strand.