nucleotide JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/nuːkliːˈoʊtaɪd/ · nu·cle·o·tide
noun
- The monomer constituting DNA or RNA biopolymer molecules. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous heterocyclic base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group.
- A molecule composed of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. Nucleotides are the fundamental units of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.
Did you know? The discovery of the structure of nucleotides by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 revolutionized our understanding of genetics and paved the way for major advances in molecular biology.