What is the backbone of a DNA strand formed from?

The backbone of a DNA strand is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups. Specifically, the sugar involved is deoxyribose, and it is covalently bonded to a phosphate group. This sugar-phosphate backbone provides structural stability to the DNA molecule, supporting the nitrogenous bases that extend from it, which are responsible for encoding genetic information. The arrangement of the sugar and phosphate creates a repeating structure that helps maintain the double helix shape of DNA, enabling it to store and transmit genetic information effectively.