Question

Ribose sugar differs from deoxyribose in having

• A. two extra oxygen molecules
• B. one extra oxygen molecules
• C. no oxygen
• D. Hydroxyl group

Answer 1

The correct option is D Hydroxyl group

Ribose sugar has a 2'-OH group whereas the deoxyribose sugar does not have it. So, instead of the 2'-OH group there is only a hydrogen atom attached to the 2' carbon of the carbohydrate. The lack of this hydroxyl group in the deoxyribose sugar provides extra stability to the entire nucleic acid structure, i.e, the DNA from alkaline or acid hydrolysis.

So, the correct option is 'hydroxyl group'.