Which components make up a nucleotide?

A nucleotide is a fundamental building block of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. It is composed of three key components: a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, while in RNA, the sugar is ribose. The phosphate group connects to the sugar and provides the structural framework for the nucleic acid strand, while the nitrogenous base varies (such as adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine in DNA, and uracil in RNA) and is essential for encoding genetic information.

The other options include incorrect components that do not accurately reflect the structure of a nucleotide. For example, amino acids and fatty acids are components of proteins and lipids, respectively, and do not play a role in the makeup of nucleotides. Thus, understanding the precise components of a nucleotide is crucial for studying nucleic acids and their functions in biological systems.