Question

How do the sugars of RNA and DNA differ?

a. RNA has a six-carbon sugar; DNA has a five-carbon sugar
b. The sugar of RNA has a hydroxyl group that is not found in the sugar of DNA
c. RNA contains uracil; DNA contains thymine
d. DNA's sugar has a phosphorus atom; RNA's sugar does not

Answer 1

RNA and DNA sugars differ by the presence of a hydroxyl group at the 2' carbon in ribose (RNA) and the absence of it in deoxyribose (DNA).

Step-by-step explanation:

The sugars in RNA and DNA differ by a single hydroxyl group. The sugar in RNA is ribose, which has a hydroxyl group at the 2' carbon atom. In contrast, the sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, which has a hydrogen atom instead of a hydroxyl group at the 2' position. This difference is crucial for the structure and function of these molecules. Both DNA and RNA contain five-carbon sugars and are essential components of the genetic material in cells.