Which sugars are found in the structure of DNA?

The structure of DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, which is a pentose sugar specifically characterized by the absence of one oxygen atom compared to ribose. Deoxyribose is integral to forming the backbone of the DNA molecule, where it alternates with phosphate groups to create a stable structure. The presence of deoxyribose is crucial because it influences the overall stability and function of DNA compared to RNA, which contains ribose. Understanding this distinction is key in molecular biology, as it directly impacts how genetic information is stored and transmitted.