1 DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose, while RNA contains the sugar ribose. 2  The only difference between ribose and deoxyribose is that ribose has one more-OH group than deoxyribose, which has-H attached to the second (2') carbon in the ring.omposition of Bases and Sugars. deoxyribose sugar. phosphate backbone. adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine bases. ribose sugar. phosphate backbone. adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil bases. Propagation. DNA is self-replicating. RNA is synthesized from DNA on an as-needed basis.