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Multiple Choice
Which sugar molecule is found in the backbone of DNA?
A
Deoxyribose
B
Fructose
C
Glucose
D
Ribose
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of DNA: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is composed of a sugar-phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases. The sugar molecule in the backbone is crucial for its structure and function.
Identify the type of sugar in DNA: The sugar in DNA is a pentose sugar, meaning it has five carbon atoms. This sugar is specifically deoxyribose, which is a modified form of ribose where one oxygen atom is removed from the hydroxyl group on the 2' carbon.
Compare the options provided: Fructose and glucose are hexose sugars (six carbon atoms) and are not part of the DNA structure. Ribose is a pentose sugar found in RNA, not DNA. Deoxyribose is the correct sugar found in DNA.
Understand the difference between ribose and deoxyribose: Ribose has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 2' carbon, while deoxyribose lacks this hydroxyl group, having only a hydrogen atom (-H) at the 2' position. This difference is key to distinguishing DNA from RNA.
Conclude that the sugar molecule found in the backbone of DNA is deoxyribose, as it is specifically designed to form the stable structure of DNA.