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Multiple Choice
Which sugar is found in RNA?
A
Ribose
B
Glucose
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: Recall 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 options provided. Glucose and fructose are hexose sugars (six-carbon sugars) and are not part of nucleic acids. Deoxyribose is the sugar found in DNA, not RNA. Ribose is the correct sugar found in RNA.
Step 4: Examine the chemical structure of ribose. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar with the molecular formula C₅H₁₀O₅. It differs from deoxyribose by having a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to the 2' carbon, which is absent in deoxyribose.
Step 5: Conclude that ribose is the sugar found in RNA, as it is specifically designed to form the backbone of RNA molecules and is distinct from the sugars found in DNA or other biological molecules.