A nucleotide is composed of which components?

Study for the Biochemistry Module 6 Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions; each question includes hints and explanations. Gear up to ace your test!

Multiple Choice

A nucleotide is composed of which components?

Explanation:
A nucleotide is built from three essential pieces: a five‑carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar (ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) provides the attachment point for the base and for the phosphate group. The phosphate group links to the sugar to form the backbone of nucleic acids via phosphodiester bonds, which holds the chain together. The nitrogenous base is the part that carries genetic information through specific pairing. If any one component is missing, you don’t have a nucleotide. So the complete nucleotide includes a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

A nucleotide is built from three essential pieces: a five‑carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar (ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) provides the attachment point for the base and for the phosphate group. The phosphate group links to the sugar to form the backbone of nucleic acids via phosphodiester bonds, which holds the chain together. The nitrogenous base is the part that carries genetic information through specific pairing. If any one component is missing, you don’t have a nucleotide. So the complete nucleotide includes a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

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