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Multiple Choice
A nucleotide has three basic components. What are they?
A
A nitrogenous base, a hexose sugar, and a phosphate group
B
A nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a sulfate group
C
A nitrogenous base, a hexose sugar, and a sulfate group
D
A nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of a nucleotide: Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. They consist of three main components.
Identify the nitrogenous base: This is one of the key components of a nucleotide. It can be a purine (adenine or guanine) or a pyrimidine (cytosine, thymine, or uracil).
Recognize the sugar component: Nucleotides contain a pentose sugar, which is a five-carbon sugar. In DNA, this sugar is deoxyribose, and in RNA, it is ribose.
Determine the phosphate group: The phosphate group is attached to the 5' carbon of the pentose sugar and is crucial for forming the backbone of nucleic acids.
Combine the components: A nucleotide is composed of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group, which together form the basic unit of nucleic acids.