Which sugar is found in the backbone of DNA?

Study for the DNA Structure, Replication, Transcription and Translation Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly and excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which sugar is found in the backbone of DNA?

Explanation:
DNA's backbone is made of alternating sugar and phosphate units linked by phosphodiester bonds, giving the molecule its stable, directional structure. The sugar in this backbone is deoxyribose, which lacks the OH group at the 2' carbon. That missing 2' hydroxyl is what makes it "deoxy" and helps DNA stay more chemically stable over time. In contrast, RNA uses ribose, which has a hydroxyl at the 2' position and is more reactive. Glucose and fructose are hexose sugars used in metabolism, not components of nucleic acid backbones. So the sugar in the backbone of DNA is deoxyribose.

DNA's backbone is made of alternating sugar and phosphate units linked by phosphodiester bonds, giving the molecule its stable, directional structure. The sugar in this backbone is deoxyribose, which lacks the OH group at the 2' carbon. That missing 2' hydroxyl is what makes it "deoxy" and helps DNA stay more chemically stable over time. In contrast, RNA uses ribose, which has a hydroxyl at the 2' position and is more reactive. Glucose and fructose are hexose sugars used in metabolism, not components of nucleic acid backbones. So the sugar in the backbone of DNA is deoxyribose.

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