Question detail
Which components make up a DNA nucleotide?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Amino acids, proteins and DNA (A-level only)
Question
- A. Sugar, phosphate, and amino acid
- B. Sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base
- C. Nitrogenous base, carboxylic acid, and sugar
- D. Phosphate, amino acid, and nitrogenous base
Answer
Sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base
Explanation
A DNA nucleotide is composed of three components: a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base, which are essential for the structure of DNA.
Common mistake
Confusing Functional Groups
Students often describe amino acids without clearly identifying the presence of both amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups.
To fix this, remember that an amino acid contains both an amine group and a carboxylic acid group. For example, the general structure of an amino acid can be represented as R-CH(NH2)-COOH, where R represents the variable side chain. Clearly state both functional groups when describing amino acids.
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