What type of sugar is found in RNA?

Ribose is the correct sugar found in RNA, which is crucial for the structure and function of this type of nucleic acid. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is composed of nucleotide units, each of which includes a ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. Ribose, a five-carbon sugar (pentose), plays an essential role in the formation of the ribonucleotide structure, allowing RNA to serve various functions, such as protein synthesis and gene regulation.

In contrast, deoxyribose, which differs from ribose by the absence of one oxygen atom, is found in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Other sugars listed, such as fructose and glucose, do not participate in the structure of nucleic acids. Fructose is a simple sugar commonly found in fruits and used in energy metabolism, while glucose is a primary energy source for cells, but neither is involved in the composition of RNA. Therefore, the presence of ribose is fundamental for the identity and function of RNA.