Discuss with your teacher and find out how to distinguish between
(a) Plasmid DNA and chromosomal DNA
(b) RNA and DNA
(c) Exonuclease and Endonuclease

Plasmid DNA

Chromosomal DNA

Plasmid DNA is an extra-chromosomal DNA molecule in bacteria that is capable of replicating, independent of chromosomal DNA.

Chromosomal DNA is the entire DNA of an organism present inside chromosomes.

RNA

DNA

1.

RNA is a single stranded molecule.

DNA is a double stranded molecule.

2.

It contains ribose sugar.

It contains deoxyribose sugar.

3.

The pyrimidines in RNA are adenine and uracil.

The pyrimidines in DNA are adenine and thymine.

4

RNA cannot replicate itself.

DNA molecules have the ability to replicate.

5

It is a component of the ribosomes.

It is a component of the chromosomes.

Exonuclease

Endonuclease

It is a type of restriction enzyme that removes the nucleotide from 5^’ or 3^’ ends of the DNA molecule.

It is a type of restriction enzyme that makes a cut within the DNA at a specific site to generate sticky ends.