What is a monomer (one unit) of a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) called?
The monomer or one unit of a nucleic acid, specifically DNA or RNA, is called a nucleotide
The monomer or one unit of a nucleic acid, specifically DNA or RNA, is called a nucleotide. Nucleotides are composed of three main components: a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
The sugar molecule in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA, it is ribose. The phosphate group consists of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. The nitrogenous base can be one of four types in DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), or thymine (T). In RNA, the nitrogenous base thymine is replaced by uracil (U).
The nucleotides in DNA or RNA combine through a covalent bond between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar molecule of the adjacent nucleotide, forming a sugar-phosphate backbone. The nitrogenous bases extend from this backbone, forming the information-carrying part of the nucleic acid molecule.
The specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA determines the genetic code and instructions for protein synthesis. Each nucleotide is connected in a linear sequence, and the order of the nitrogenous bases along the backbone is what gives each nucleic acid molecule its unique information.
Overall, nucleotides are crucial building blocks of DNA and RNA, essential for transmitting and storing genetic information in living organisms.
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Understanding the Fundamentals of DNA: The Four Nitrogenous Bases and their Role in Genetic Information Transfer