What is the Difference Between Cytosine and Thymine?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Cytosine and thymine are both nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids, but they have some key differences:
- Presence in nucleic acids: Cytosine is found in both DNA and RNA, while thymine is found only in DNA. In RNA, thymine is replaced by a base called uracil.
- Chemical formula: Cytosine has a chemical formula of C4H5N3O, while thymine has a chemical formula of C5H6N2O2.
- Complementary base pairing: Cytosine pairs with guanine in both DNA and RNA, forming three hydrogen bonds. Thymine, on the other hand, pairs with adenine in DNA, forming two hydrogen bonds.
- Structure: Cytosine has an amine group at the C4 position and a keto group at the C2 position. Thymine has two keto groups at the C2 and C4 positions and a methyl group at the C5 position.
In summary, cytosine is a pyrimidine base found in both DNA and RNA, pairing with guanine and forming three hydrogen bonds. Thymine is also a pyrimidine base but is found only in DNA, pairing with adenine and forming two hydrogen bonds.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Cytosine and Thymine? Comparative Table: Cytosine vs Thymine
Comparative Table: Cytosine vs Thymine
Here is a table comparing the differences between cytosine and thymine:
Feature | Cytosine | Thymine |
---|---|---|
Chemical Formula | C4H5N3O | C5H6N2O2 |
Presence | Found in both DNA and RNA | Found only in DNA |
Complementary Base | Pairs with guanine | Pairs with adenine |
Hydrogen Bonds in the Pair | Connected by three hydrogen bonds | Connected by two hydrogen bonds |
Structure | Heterocyclic aromatic ring with a keto group at C2 and an amine group at C4 | Heterocyclic aromatic ring with two keto groups at C2 and C4, and a methyl group at C5 |
Molecular Formula | C4H5N3O | C5H6N2O2 |
Molar Mass | 111.1 g/mol | 126.1133 g/mol |
Cytosine and thymine are both nitrogenous bases with a heterocyclic aromatic ring. They are part of the four nucleotide bases found in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which stores genetic information. Cytosine pairs with guanine, while thymine pairs with adenine in DNA.
Read more:
- Thymine vs Thymidine
- Thymine vs Uracil
- Cytosine vs Cysteine
- Purine vs Pyrimidine
- Guanine vs Guanosine
- Adenine vs Guanine
- Pyridine vs Pyrimidine
- Adenosine vs Adenine
- Cysteine vs cystine
- Purine vs Pyrimidine Synthesis
- DNA vs RNA Nucleotide
- Serine vs Threonine
- a Ribonucleotide vs a Deoxyribonucleotide
- Adenosine vs Deoxyadenosine
- Nucleotide vs Nucleoside
- DNA vs RNA
- Nucleotide vs Base
- Cysteine vs Serine
- Nucleotide vs Nucleic Acid