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A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate and nitrogenous base.
Nucleotides are the monomers that make up nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. Each nucleotide consists of a sugar molecule (either ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The nitrogenous base can be one of four types: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), or thymine (T) in DNA, or uracil (U) in RNA.
The formation of a nucleotide involves the condensation of a sugar molecule with a phosphate group, forming a sugar-phosphate backbone. The nitrogenous base is then attached to the sugar molecule, forming a complete nucleotide. This process is catalysed by enzymes called nucleotidyltransferases.
Nucleotides are essential for the storage and transmission of genetic information in living organisms. In DNA, the sequence of nucleotides determines the genetic code, which is responsible for the traits and characteristics of an organism. In RNA, nucleotides are involved in the process of protein synthesis, where they carry the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are made.
In summary, nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base. They are formed through a condensation reaction and are essential for the storage and transmission of genetic information in living organisms.
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