Which sugar is found in RNA?

Which sugar is found in RNA?

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

Answer: (A)

RNA uses ribose, a five-carbon sugar, in its backbone. Each nucleotide in RNA contains ribose, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The key feature is a hydroxyl group on the 2' carbon of ribose, which distinguishes it from DNA’s sugar, deoxyribose, that lacks this 2' OH. This structural difference helps explain RNA’s relative instability and its diverse roles, including catalysis and information transfer. The other sugars listed aren’t used to form RNA’s backbone: deoxyribose is the sugar in DNA, glucose and galactose are energy-supply sugars used in metabolism and are not the sugar component of nucleic acids.

RNA uses ribose, a five-carbon sugar, in its backbone. Each nucleotide in RNA contains ribose, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The key feature is a hydroxyl group on the 2' carbon of ribose, which distinguishes it from DNA’s sugar, deoxyribose, that lacks this 2' OH. This structural difference helps explain RNA’s relative instability and its diverse roles, including catalysis and information transfer. The other sugars listed aren’t used to form RNA’s backbone: deoxyribose is the sugar in DNA, glucose and galactose are energy-supply sugars used in metabolism and are not the sugar component of nucleic acids.