Which five-carbon sugar is found in DNA?

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is composed of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
2. Identify the sugar component in DNA nucleotides, which is a five-carbon sugar (pentose sugar).
3. Understand that there are two common five-carbon sugars in nucleic acids: ribose and deoxyribose.
4. Recognize that RNA contains ribose, which has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 2' carbon, while DNA contains deoxyribose, which lacks the oxygen atom at the 2' carbon (hence 'deoxy').
5. Conclude that the five-carbon sugar found in DNA is deoxyribose, distinguishing it from ribose found in RNA and other sugars like glucose or fructose, which are six-carbon sugars.