What are the components of a nucleotide?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to identify and explain the parts that make up a nucleotide, which is a basic building block of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. Nucleotides consist of three main components: a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base. Understanding these components is essential in biology and biochemistry.
Answer
Nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, phosphate group
The components of a nucleotide are a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (pentose), and a phosphate group.
Answer for screen readers
The components of a nucleotide are a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (pentose), and a phosphate group.
More Information
Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. The nitrogenous bases can be adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U) in RNA.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse nucleotides with nucleosides. Nucleosides consist of only the nitrogenous base and sugar, without the phosphate group.
Sources
- Nucleotide - National Human Genome Research Institute - genome.gov
- Nucleotide - Biology Encyclopedia - biologyreference.com
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