JEE · NEET Previous Year Question

Both human DNA and RNA are chiral molecules. The chirality in DNA and RNA arises due to the presence of

Topic: JEE PYQ

Answer: D. Full step-by-step solution below.

  1. AL-sugar component
  2. BChiral phosphate unit
  3. CBase unit
  4. DD-sugar component

Correct answer: D

Solution

(d) DNA and RNA are chiral molecules due to their structural components. Both contain pentose sugars: DNA contains deoxyribose and RNA contains ribose. These are D-sugars with multiple chiral centers (at , and in the furanose ring). The D-designation comes from the stereochemical configuration at the chiral center furthest from the carbonyl carbon. The chiral centers in these sugar moieties are the primary source of chirality in nucleic acids, making them optically active molecules. While the phosphate units and bases also contribute to molecular structure, the fundamental chirality arises from the D-sugar component.

More Biomolecules PYQs