Question

unit 1 - challenge 1.2: chemistry of life
which of the following statements best describes a nucleotide?
a.) nucleotides can be assembled into dna, rna, or atp.
b.) nucleotides are made of amino acids.
c.) nucleotides consist of two subunits, which include a phosphate and nitrogen base only.
d.) nucleotides are inorganic compounds.

Explanation:

• Option a: Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). ATP (adenosine tri - phosphate) is also a nucleotide derivative. So, nucleotides can be assembled into DNA, RNA, or ATP.
• Option b: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, not nucleotides. Nucleotides have a different structure (a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen - containing base).
• Option c: Nucleotides consist of three subunits: a sugar (ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA), a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.
• Option d: Nucleotides are organic compounds as they contain carbon (in the sugar and nitrogen - containing base components).

Answer:

A. Nucleotides can be assembled into DNA, RNA, or ATP.