Which statement correctly describes RNA?

Which statement correctly describes RNA?

• A. RNA is single-stranded
• B. RNA contains thymine
• C. RNA has deoxyribose
• D. RNA forms a double helix

Answer: (A)

RNA is typically single-stranded, which is why it doesn’t adopt a long, uniform double-helix like DNA. This single strand can fold into various shapes that are essential for RNA’s diverse roles in the cell. In addition, RNA uses ribose as its sugar and uracil instead of thymine; these differences from DNA help explain why RNA is not described as a stable, canonical double helix. The statement about thymine is incorrect because thymine is found in DNA, not RNA; the statement about deoxyribose is incorrect because RNA has ribose; and the statement about forming a double helix is incorrect because RNA generally does not maintain a stable double-helix structure like DNA, though it can form short, locally paired regions.

RNA is typically single-stranded, which is why it doesn’t adopt a long, uniform double-helix like DNA. This single strand can fold into various shapes that are essential for RNA’s diverse roles in the cell. In addition, RNA uses ribose as its sugar and uracil instead of thymine; these differences from DNA help explain why RNA is not described as a stable, canonical double helix. The statement about thymine is incorrect because thymine is found in DNA, not RNA; the statement about deoxyribose is incorrect because RNA has ribose; and the statement about forming a double helix is incorrect because RNA generally does not maintain a stable double-helix structure like DNA, though it can form short, locally paired regions.