Which sugar is found in DNA nucleotides?

Study for the DNA Structure, Function, and Replication Exam with our comprehensive test. Review multiple-choice questions, get detailed explanations, and prepare effectively for your biology test.

Multiple Choice

Which sugar is found in DNA nucleotides?

Explanation:
DNA nucleotides use a five-carbon sugar called deoxyribose, which is missing an oxygen atom at the 2' position. That absence gives it the name deoxy- and makes the DNA backbone more chemically stable compared with RNA, which uses ribose that has an -OH group at the 2' carbon. Fructose and glucose are hexose sugars not used in DNA nucleotides. In DNA, deoxyribose links to a base at the 1' carbon and to a phosphate at the 5' carbon, forming the sugar–phosphate backbone that holds the genetic information securely.

DNA nucleotides use a five-carbon sugar called deoxyribose, which is missing an oxygen atom at the 2' position. That absence gives it the name deoxy- and makes the DNA backbone more chemically stable compared with RNA, which uses ribose that has an -OH group at the 2' carbon. Fructose and glucose are hexose sugars not used in DNA nucleotides. In DNA, deoxyribose links to a base at the 1' carbon and to a phosphate at the 5' carbon, forming the sugar–phosphate backbone that holds the genetic information securely.

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