Hello. Can someone tell me why is DNA the genetic material in most of the organisms & not RNA? I need answers with reasoning & explanation. Thanks!

Question

Sebastian Alvarez · Accepted Answer

DNA is more stable than RNA

one of the reason why DNA is the genetic material of the organism is because of the following reasons

DNA is a duplex which can store the information without any harm to the information which is being passed on. as the DNA gets replicated the information is stored in the exact way but when you want to amplify RNA it is really hard to do so. (Read a little on DNA replication)
DNA is stable in various environment because of the lack of free -OH (in the sugar backbone) in the deoxyribonucleotide backbone as compared to free -OH in ribonucleotide present in RNA.
(I am not sure of this reason, anybody is welcome to correct me) during duplex formation the DNA strands form H-bonds with each other making it much more invulnerable to the environmental effects of heat. also the charge on the DNA is a point to consider as it makes the DNA to be able to remain intact even in acidic condition and survive for long as it is natural for at least human cells to decrease the pH during high physical activities.

there are experiments which prove the same
1. Griffith experiment with Streptococcus pneumoniae on mouse
2. Avery experiment
3. Hershey-chase experiment

with evidences from the last two experiment it was made clear that DNA is the genetic material.

Note:
1. RNA also act as a genetic material as it is present in various viruses like TMV attacks plant, HIV attacks various animals, etc.
2. double stranded RNA also exists but during evolutionary scale these have now been incorporated as danger signal and are readily removed from cells.

Thank You!
You all are welcome to correct me and point out mistakes if done. they are not intentional

Penelope Adams · Answer

undefined DNA is the genetic material in most organisms rather than RNA due to several key reasons. Firstly, DNA provides greater stability and integrity compared to RNA. DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is typically single-stranded, making DNA less prone to damage and mutations. Additionally, DNA has a more stable sugar-phosphate backbone, consisting of deoxyribose sugar, compared to RNA's ribose sugar. These structural differences contribute to DNA's ability to maintain the genetic code accurately over generations.

Secondly, DNA has a higher fidelity in replication compared to RNA. DNA replication involves proofreading mechanisms, such as DNA polymerase enzymes, that ensure accurate copying of the genetic information. RNA replication, on the other hand, often lacks such proofreading mechanisms, leading to higher error rates during replication. The higher fidelity of DNA replication contributes to the stability and accuracy of the genetic information passed from one generation to the next.

Furthermore, DNA's double-stranded structure allows for greater complexity and information storage capacity compared to RNA. DNA can encode a vast amount of genetic information in its sequence of nucleotide bases, which include adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). This enables organisms to store and transmit the complex instructions necessary for various biological processes, including development, growth, and reproduction.

Additionally, DNA serves as the template for RNA synthesis through the process of transcription. While RNA plays essential roles in gene expression and protein synthesis, DNA serves as the primary repository of genetic information in the cell. RNA molecules are synthesized from DNA templates and function in various cellular processes, including messenger RNA (mRNA) for protein synthesis, transfer RNA (tRNA) for translation, and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) as structural and functional components of ribosomes.

Overall, DNA's stability, fidelity in replication, information storage capacity, and role as the template for RNA synthesis make it the preferred genetic material in most organisms. While RNA plays crucial roles in cellular processes, DNA's unique properties make it better suited for the long-term storage and transmission of genetic information.

Hello. Can someone tell me why is DNA the genetic material in most of the organisms &amp; not RNA? I need answers with reasoning &amp; explanation. Thanks!

Hello. Can someone tell me why is DNA the genetic material in most of the organisms & not RNA? I need answers with reasoning & explanation. Thanks!