What is the sugar component in the DNA backbone?

What is the sugar component in the DNA backbone?

• A. Ribose
• B. Deoxyribose
• C. Glucose
• D. Fructose

Answer: (B)

DNA’s backbone is a sugar–phosphate chain, and the sugar in that backbone is deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is a five-carbon sugar that lacks the 2' hydroxyl group found in ribose, which makes DNA more chemically stable. The sugar units connect to phosphate groups through phosphodiester bonds, creating the directionality of the molecule. The other sugars listed aren’t used in DNA: ribose is the sugar in RNA, while glucose and fructose are simple hexose sugars not part of nucleic acid backbones. So, the sugar component of the DNA backbone is deoxyribose.

DNA’s backbone is a sugar–phosphate chain, and the sugar in that backbone is deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is a five-carbon sugar that lacks the 2' hydroxyl group found in ribose, which makes DNA more chemically stable. The sugar units connect to phosphate groups through phosphodiester bonds, creating the directionality of the molecule. The other sugars listed aren’t used in DNA: ribose is the sugar in RNA, while glucose and fructose are simple hexose sugars not part of nucleic acid backbones. So, the sugar component of the DNA backbone is deoxyribose.