Question:medium
Identify the difference between the sugars in DNA and RNA.
Identify the difference between the sugars in DNA and RNA.
Show Hint
The sugar in RNA has a hydroxyl group at the 2' position, while DNA has a hydrogen atom at the same position.
Updated On: Feb 18, 2026
- In RNA, the sugar residue is neuraminic acid while the sugar residue in DNA is deoxy-neuraminic acid
- In DNA, the sugar residue is deoxy-adenine whereas in RNA it is adenine
- In RNA, the sugar residue is a reducing sugar whereas in DNA it is not
- In DNA, the sugar is 2-deoxy-D-ribose whereas in RNA, it is D-ribose
Show Solution
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
DNA and RNA differ primarily in their sugar composition: DNA contains 2-deoxy-D-ribose, while RNA contains D-ribose. The lack of a hydroxyl group at the 2' position gives DNA greater stability compared to RNA.
Was this answer helpful?
1
Top Questions on Carbohydrates
- What is the structural feature of glucose that makes it a reducing sugar?
- MHT CET - 2024
- Chemistry
- Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates are essential for life in both plants and animals. Carbohydrates are used as storage molecules as starch in plants and glycogen in animals. Chemically, they are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones. On the basis of their behavior on hydrolysis, carbohydrates are classified as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.
All monosaccharides are reducing sugars, i.e., they are oxidized by Tollens' reagent and Fehling’s solution. A monosaccharide like glucose is an aldose, and its molecular formula was found to be C6H12O6. After reacting with different reagents like HI, H2N–OH, Bromine water, (CH3)2O, etc., its structure was found to contain one aldehyde group, one primary alcoholic group (–CH2OH), and four secondary alcoholic groups (>CHOH).
Despite having the aldehyde group, glucose does not give some of the reactions of aldehyde groups like Schiff’s test or NaHSO3 addition. This explains the existence of glucose in two cyclic hemiacetal forms, which differ only in the configuration of the hydroxyl group at C–1.- CBSE Class XII - 2024
- Chemistry
- Carbohydrates
- What happens when D-glucose is treated with the following reagents?
(a) Br$_2$ water
(b) HCN- CBSE Class XII - 2024
- Chemistry
- Carbohydrates
- The suitable Grignard reagent used for the synthesis of
with methanal is:- CBSE Class XII - 2024
- Chemistry
- Carbohydrates
- Want to practice more? Try solving extra ecology questions todayView All Questions