Which of the following are the three components of a nucleotide?

Which of the following are the three components of a nucleotide?

• A. A phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base
• B. An amino acid, a carbohydrate, and a lipid
• C. Two amino acids and a fatty acid
• D. A sugar, a phosphate, and an enzyme

Answer: (A)

A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, and consists of three key components: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. The phosphate group is responsible for the backbone of the nucleic acid structure, linking nucleotides together through phosphodiester bonds. The sugar (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) forms the central part of the nucleotide, and the nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, or uracil) carries the genetic information. This structure is fundamental to the function of nucleic acids in storing and transmitting genetic information. The presence of a phosphate group, sugar, and nitrogenous base is what distinguishes nucleotides from other macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. The other options listed include various combinations of molecules, such as amino acids and lipids, which do not form nucleotides and do not contribute to the structure or function of nucleic acids.

A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, and consists of three key components: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. The phosphate group is responsible for the backbone of the nucleic acid structure, linking nucleotides together through phosphodiester bonds. The sugar (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) forms the central part of the nucleotide, and the nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, or uracil) carries the genetic information.

This structure is fundamental to the function of nucleic acids in storing and transmitting genetic information. The presence of a phosphate group, sugar, and nitrogenous base is what distinguishes nucleotides from other macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. The other options listed include various combinations of molecules, such as amino acids and lipids, which do not form nucleotides and do not contribute to the structure or function of nucleic acids.