DNA vs. RNA Interactive Activity Update worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are given a list of descriptions and need to sort them into three categories: DNA, RNA, or Both.

First, let’s recall the key differences between DNA and RNA:

- DNA is double-stranded; RNA is usually single-stranded.
- DNA has deoxyribose sugar; RNA has ribose sugar.
- DNA uses thymine (T); RNA uses uracil (U) instead.
- Both have adenine (A), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
- Base pairing in DNA: A-T, C-G. In RNA: A-U, C-G.
- DNA stores genetic info and stays in nucleus (in eukaryotes). RNA carries instructions out of nucleus to make proteins.
- Both are nucleic acids built from sugar, base, phosphate backbone.
- Both important for protein synthesis — DNA holds the plan, RNA helps build the protein.

Now let’s go through each description one by one and assign it correctly.

List of descriptions:

1. Contains Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine → BOTH (both have these 3 bases)
2. Single stranded → RNA
3. Double stranded → DNA
4. Instructions for making proteins → RNA (mRNA carries instructions)
5. Contains Thymine → DNA
6. Contains Uracil → RNA
7. Adenine pairs with Thymine → DNA
8. Cytosine pairs with Guanine → BOTH (true in both DNA and RNA)
9. Adenine pairs with Uracil → RNA
10. Contains sugar Deoxyribose → DNA
11. Contains sugar Ribose → RNA
12. Ribonucleic acid → RNA
13. Deoxyribonucleic acid → DNA
14. Can leave the nucleus → RNA (DNA cannot)
15. Too large to leave nucleus → DNA (it’s huge and stays put)
16. Built by sugar, base, phosphate backbone → BOTH (structure of nucleotides)
17. Important for protein synthesis → BOTH (DNA provides code, RNA executes it)
18. Copy instructions & makes proteins → RNA (mRNA copies, tRNA/rRNA help make)
19. Stores genetic information → DNA
20. Uses genetic info for protein synthesis → RNA

Wait — let’s double-check #17 and #18.

#17 “Important for protein synthesis” — yes, both are involved. DNA has the genes, RNA translates them. So BOTH.

#18 “Copy instructions & makes proteins” — this sounds like mRNA copying DNA and then being used to make proteins. So RNA.

Also, #4 “Instructions for making proteins” — that’s mRNA, so RNA.

Let’s organize them now.

DNA:
- Double stranded
- Contains Thymine
- Adenine pairs with Thymine
- Contains sugar Deoxyribose
- Deoxyribonucleic acid
- Too large to leave nucleus
- Stores genetic information

RNA:
- Single stranded
- Instructions for making proteins
- Contains Uracil
- Adenine pairs with Uracil
- Contains sugar Ribose
- Ribonucleic acid
- Can leave the nucleus
- Copy instructions & makes proteins
- Uses genetic info for protein synthesis

Both:
- Contains Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine
- Cytosine pairs with Guanine
- Built by sugar, base, phosphate backbone
- Important for protein synthesis

Wait — did we miss any?

Original list had 20 items. Let’s count what we assigned:

DNA: 7 items
RNA: 9 items
Both: 4 items
Total = 20 ✔️

But let’s check if “Cytosine pairs with Guanine” should be under Both — yes, because in DNA, C pairs with G, and in RNA, C also pairs with G (during transcription/translation).

Also, “Built by sugar, base, phosphate backbone” — true for both nucleotides.

“Important for protein synthesis” — definitely both.

One more thing: The instruction says “start from the top and go left to right when you drag and drop.” But since we’re just listing, we’ll group them as above.

Final grouping:

DNA:
- Double stranded
- Contains Thymine
- Adenine pairs with Thymine
- Contains sugar Deoxyribose
- Deoxyribonucleic acid
- Too large to leave nucleus
- Stores genetic information

RNA:
- Single stranded
- Instructions for making proteins
- Contains Uracil
- Adenine pairs with Uracil
- Contains sugar Ribose
- Ribonucleic acid
- Can leave the nucleus
- Copy instructions & makes proteins
- Uses genetic info for protein synthesis

Both:
- Contains Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine
- Cytosine pairs with Guanine
- Built by sugar, base, phosphate backbone
- Important for protein synthesis

This matches all 20 descriptions.

Final Answer:
DNA: Double stranded, Contains Thymine, Adenine pairs with Thymine, Contains sugar Deoxyribose, Deoxyribonucleic acid, Too large to leave nucleus, Stores genetic information
RNA: Single stranded, Instructions for making proteins, Contains Uracil, Adenine pairs with Uracil, Contains sugar Ribose, Ribonucleic acid, Can leave the nucleus, Copy instructions & makes proteins, Uses genetic info for protein synthesis
Both: Contains Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Cytosine pairs with Guanine, Built by sugar, base, phosphate backbone, Important for protein synthesis