deoxyribose

[ dee-ok-si-rahy-bohs ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of certain carbohydrates derived from ribose by the replacement of a hydroxyl group with a hydrogen atom.
2. the sugar, HOCH 2 (CHOH) 2 CH 2 CHO, obtained from DNA by hydrolysis.

deoxyribose

/ -bəʊz; dɛsˌɒksɪˈraɪbəʊs; -bəʊz; diːˌɒksɪˈraɪbəʊs /

noun

1. a pentose sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of DNA. Formula: C 5 H 10 O 4

deoxyribose

/ dē-ŏk′sē-rī′bōs′ /

1. The sugar found in the side chains of DNA, differing from ribose in having a hydrogen atom instead of an OH group on one of its carbon atoms. Chemical formula: C 5 H 10 O 4 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of deoxyribose¹

First recorded in 1930–35; deoxy- + ribose

Example Sentences

Lactose, for example, is found in milk; deoxyribose gives the “D” to DNA.

From The Guardian

The numbers refer to the position of the carbon atom in the deoxyribose molecule at the end of the strand to which the next phosphate molecule in the DNA chain attaches.

From Scientific American

DNA is made up of nucleic acid bases -- labeled A, C, G and T -- on a backbone made of phosphates and the sugar deoxyribose.

From Scientific American