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Multiple Choice
The backbone of a DNA molecule is made of which two components?
A
Nitrogenous bases and deoxyribose sugar
B
Ribose sugar and phosphate groups
C
Deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups
D
Amino acids and phosphate groups
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the components that form the backbone of a DNA molecule. The backbone is the structural framework that supports the DNA structure.
Recall that DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, which gives a hint about one of the components involved in the backbone.
Understand that the backbone of DNA is composed of repeating units of deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups. These two components alternate to form the structural framework.
The deoxyribose sugar is a five-carbon sugar molecule that is part of the nucleotide structure in DNA. It is called 'deoxy' because it lacks an oxygen atom compared to ribose sugar found in RNA.
Phosphate groups link the deoxyribose sugars together through phosphodiester bonds, creating a continuous sugar-phosphate backbone that supports the nitrogenous bases, which are not part of the backbone itself.