How to Distinguish Between Deoxyribose & Ribose

How to Distinguish Between Deoxyribose & Ribose thumbnail
DNA is marked by the double helix and the four strands in each helix.

Deoxyribose and ribose are five carbon sugars that are apart of one's DNA (Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid and RNA (Ribose Nucleic Acid). Distinguishing between deoxyribose and ribose is quite simple; all you have to do is check the sugar's structure and/or nucleotides. In addition, deoxyribose and ribose are in different parts of your molecular makeup.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the strands of DNA and RNA. Deoxyriboses form in DNA, while riboses form in RNA. Without checking out the molecular elements of the deoxyribose and ribose, there is a distinct difference between the DNA and RNA structures. RNA is single stranded while DNA is double stranded/double helix.

    • 2

      Check the structure of the deoxyribose. The deoxyribose structure consists of phosphate, hydrogen, and its case. The hydrogen molecule has four chloride bonds and one oxygen bond. Connected to the four chloride bonds are four hydrogen bonds.

    • 3

      Check the ribose structure. Ribose has the same primary molecular elements as deoxyribose (phosphate, hydrogen, and a base). Bonded to the hydrogen molecule, however, is an extra oxygen molecule. Structurally, this is the biggest difference between deoxyribose and ribose. The added oxygen molecule in ribose gives deoxyribose its name, because deoxy means "without oxygen."

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