noun. A pentose sugar, C₅H₁₀O₅, occurring as a component of riboflavin, nucleotides, and nucleic acids.

noun. A syrupyl pentose, C₅H₁₀O₅, formed by reducing ribonic acid with sodium amalgam and very dilute sulphuric acid.

noun. A naturally occurring pentose sugar, which is a component of the nucleosides and nucleotides that comprise the nucleic acid biopolymer, RNA. It is also found in riboflavin.

noun. a pentose sugar important as a component of ribonucleic acid

"One of the most beneficial mutations, seen repeatedly in separate cultures, was the bacterium’s loss of the ability to make a sugar called ribose, which is a component of RNA."

RNA  nucleoside  nucleotide  ribonucleic acid  

carbohydrate  saccharide  sugar  

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