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What are the differences between dsDNA and ssDNA?
Posted February 4, 2020
Answer
dsDNA is the double stranded DNA whereas ssDNA is the single stranded DNA, and although both of them carry genetic material they have a number of differences (Table 1).
Table 1. Differences between dsDNA and ssDNA.
| Feature | dsDNA | ssDNA |
| Abundance | Almost all organisms | Very few viruses (e.g. φX174) |
| Shape | Linear or filamentous | Stellate or star shaped |
| Stability | More stable | Less stable |
| A : T ratio | 1 | ∼0.77 |
| G : C ratio | 1 | 1.3 |
| Chargaff’s rule | Follows | Does not follow |
| Reaction to formaldehyde | Resistant | Highly susceptible |
| Purine : Pyrimidine ratio | 1 | Variable |
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