Concept
Nucleotide
Nucleotide
A building block of DNA or RNA made of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base.
Overview
EXPLORE BY LEVELA nucleotide is one small unit used to build DNA or RNA. Each has a sugar, a phosphate, and one base. In DNA the bases are A, T, C, and G; the order of those bases stores information.
Quick Facts
AT A GLANCEKey ideaSugar + phosphate + base
Follow the Connections
See how Nucleotide links to other biological records.
All 1 Structured Connections
Recommended Reading
Trusted references for learning more about Nucleotide.
Research Claims
Nucleotide chemistry provides both sequence information and a directional polymer backbone. The 5′ and 3′ termini arise from the chemical groups available for chain extension and are central to replication and transcription mechanisms.