Which sugar is found in RNA?

• A. Deoxyribose
• B. Fructose
• C. Ribose
• D. Glucose

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid composed of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
2. Recall that the sugar component in RNA is a pentose sugar, meaning it has five carbon atoms.
3. Differentiate between the sugars listed: Deoxyribose is found in DNA, Fructose and Glucose are simple sugars (monosaccharides) but not part of nucleic acids.
4. Identify that Ribose is the specific pentose sugar present in RNA, characterized by having a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 2' carbon, unlike deoxyribose which lacks this group.
5. Conclude that the sugar found in RNA is Ribose, which plays a crucial role in the structure and function of RNA molecules.