What are the three parts of a DNA nucleotide?

The three parts of a DNA nucleotide are indeed deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. Each of these components plays a crucial role in the structure and function of DNA.

Deoxyribose sugar is a five-carbon sugar molecule that is essential in forming the backbone of the DNA strand. Its specific structure allows for the unique double helix formation that characterizes DNA.

The phosphate group consists of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, providing the nucleotides with the ability to link together through phosphodiester bonds. This linkage forms the backbone of the DNA molecule, creating a stable structure necessary for the encoding of genetic information.

The nitrogenous base, which can be adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine in DNA, is crucial for the encoding of genetic information. These bases pair specifically (adenine with thymine, and cytosine with guanine) to form the rungs of the helical ladder, allowing for the accurate replication and transcription of DNA.

Other options provided in the question mention components that are either not included in a DNA nucleotide or incorrectly represent them. For example, ribose is found in RNA instead of DNA, and amino acids are the building