Is DNA a monomer or polymer?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking whether DNA is classified as a monomer or a polymer. DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, is made up of smaller units known as nucleotides, which are considered monomers. These nucleotides join together to form the long chains that make up DNA, thereby classifying DNA as a polymer.

More Information

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a long molecule made up of repeating units called nucleotides. These nucleotides are the monomers that join together to form the polymer DNA.

Tips

A common mistake is confusing the structure of the nucleotide (the monomer) with the overall structure of DNA (the polymer). Remember, monomers are individual subunits, while polymers are long chains of these subunits.

Sources

• The web page with info on - Example Source - mytutor.co.uk
• D. Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
• DNA | Biomacromolecular structures - EMBL-EBI - ebi.ac.uk