Which sugars form the carbohydrate components of RNA and DNA?

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The carbohydrate components of DNA and RNA are both five-carbon sugars known as pentoses.1

  • DNA: The sugar component is 2β€²-deoxyribose. It alternates with phosphate groups to form the structural backbone of the DNA polymer.21
  • RNA: The sugar component is ribose. Like deoxyribose, it alternates with phosphate groups to form the backbone of the RNA molecule.3

The primary chemical difference between these two sugars is that deoxyribose lacks a hydroxyl group (β€”OH) on the 2β€² carbon of the sugar ring, whereas ribose possesses one at that position.1