Which sugar is found in DNA?

In DNA, the sugar component is deoxyribose. This five-carbon sugar is an essential part of the DNA backbone, alongside phosphate groups, and is characterized by the absence of an oxygen atom at one of its carbon positions (specifically, the 2' carbon), which distinguishes it from ribose, the sugar found in RNA. The presence of deoxyribose in DNA plays a crucial role in the stability and structural integrity of the DNA molecule. This stability is important for the preservation of genetic information during cell division and for the accurate replication and repair of DNA.

Other sugars, such as glucose, ribose, and fructose, do not participate in the structure of DNA. Glucose is a monosaccharide that serves primarily as an energy source, ribose is a sugar linked to RNA synthesis, and fructose is another simple sugar found in various fruits and many metabolic processes. Their biochemical roles differ from that of deoxyribose, affirming its unique and significant function in the structure of DNA.