Nucleotide Structure: The Building Blocks of DNA
The basic unit of DNA is the nucleotide, which consists of three main components:
- A 5-carbon sugar
- A phosphate group
- A nitrogenous base
Vocabulary: Deoxyribose - The sugar component of DNA that gives it its name .
The nitrogenous bases in DNA are:
- Adenine
- Thymine
- Cytosine
- Guanine
These bases are what make each nucleotide unique and allow for the storage of genetic information.