Which components are part of a nucleotide in DNA?

Prepare for the Texas AandM University BIOL111 Introductory Biology I Exam. Study with comprehensive questions, detailed explanations, and strategic tips to excel in your test. Boost your confidence and knowledge for Exam 3 success!

A nucleotide in DNA is made up of three key components: a nitrogenous base, a deoxyribose sugar, and a phosphate group. The nitrogenous base can be one of four types—adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine—each playing a critical role in the coding of genetic information.

The sugar component, deoxyribose, is a five-carbon sugar that forms the backbone of the DNA structure, linking with the phosphate groups to create the long strands of DNA. The phosphate group, which consists of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, is crucial for connecting the nucleotides together through phosphodiester bonds, ultimately forming the DNA double helix.

The other options are incorrect as they either reference components not found in nucleotides or mix categories that do not correspond to the structure of DNA. For instance, fatty acids and glycerol are components of lipids, amino and carboxyl groups pertain to amino acids, and monosaccharides and polysaccharides relate to carbohydrates, none of which are involved in the structure of DNA nucleotides.

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