What is one significant difference between DNA and RNA?

One significant difference between DNA and RNA is that DNA is typically structured as a double strand, while RNA usually exists as a single strand. This structural distinction is crucial to their respective functions in the cell. DNA's double helix configuration provides stability and protection for the complex genetic information it carries. It serves as the blueprint for the organism and is essential for processes like replication and transcription.

In contrast, RNA's single-stranded form allows it to be versatile and capable of folding into various shapes, which are necessary for its roles in protein synthesis and gene regulation. RNA can form complementary base pairs with itself or with DNA, enabling it to carry messages from the DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized.

This understanding underscores the fundamental roles that these nucleic acids play in biology, with DNA being the storehouse of genetic information and RNA acting as the intermediary that helps express that information through the synthesis of proteins.