Which three of the following components make up a nucleotide?

• A. A phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a glycerol molecule
• B. A pentose sugar, a carboxyl group, and a nitrogenous base
• C. A phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base
• D. A phosphate group, a fatty acid, and a nitrogenous base

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the structure of a nucleotide. A nucleotide is the building block of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and consists of three main components: a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
2. Step 2: Analyze the options provided in the problem. Each option lists three components, and you need to identify the correct combination that matches the structure of a nucleotide.
3. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options by comparing them to the known structure of a nucleotide. For example, glycerol and fatty acids are components of lipids, not nucleotides, so any option containing these can be ruled out.
4. Step 4: Focus on the correct combination: a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base. These are the essential components that form a nucleotide. The phosphate group is attached to the pentose sugar, and the nitrogenous base is also bonded to the sugar.
5. Step 5: Confirm your understanding by recalling examples of nucleotides, such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil, which are nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA. These bases pair with the pentose sugar and phosphate group to form the nucleotide structure.