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Structure of a Nucleotide

Author: Nathan Lampson

Nucleic Acids

 

Nucleotides are components of RNA and DNA strands that code for genetic information.

In the same way that words in a book come together in order to form a story, the information in nucleotides represent the proteins that make up your body.

 

Nucleotide Structure:

Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a ribose or deoxyribose 5-carbon pentose sugar molecule, and a nitrogenous base.

The type of nucleotide is determined by the type of nitrogenous base that it is attached to.

 

Example:

The nucleotide Thymine (T) is called Thymine because its nitrogenous base is a thymine molecule.

Nucleic Acids