Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which sugar is found in RNA?
A
Glucose
B
Ribose
C
Deoxyribose
D
Fructose
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the structure of RNA. RNA stands for Ribonucleic Acid, and it is a nucleic acid composed of nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a phosphate group, a nitrogenous base, and a sugar molecule.
Step 2: Identify the sugar molecule in RNA. The sugar in RNA is a pentose sugar, meaning it has five carbon atoms. This sugar is essential for forming the backbone of the RNA molecule.
Step 3: Compare the sugar in RNA to the sugar in DNA. RNA contains ribose, which is a sugar with a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to the 2' carbon. In contrast, DNA contains deoxyribose, which lacks the hydroxyl group at the 2' carbon and instead has a hydrogen atom.
Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options. Glucose and fructose are monosaccharides commonly involved in energy metabolism, not nucleic acids. Deoxyribose is found in DNA, not RNA.
Step 5: Conclude that the sugar found in RNA is ribose, as it matches the structural requirements and is specific to RNA molecules.