Final answer:
Nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogen-containing base, are the building blocks that form the backbone of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. These nucleic acids are critical for genetic heredity and protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kind of phosphate responsible for being the building blocks of RNA and DNA are found within nucleotides. Nucleotides are essential compounds consisting of a phosphate group, a pentose sugar (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA), and a nitrogen-containing base. These components form the backbone of the nucleic acids, which are vital for various biological processes, including protein synthesis and heredity. While they share three common bases—adenine (A), cytosine (C), and guanine (G)—DNA and RNA differ in that DNA contains thymine (T) and RNA contains uracil (U) as their respective unique bases.
DNA and RNA
- DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, has a double-helical structure, which carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.
- RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is single-stranded and plays a crucial role in protein synthesis (mRNA), functioning as part of the ribosome (rRNA), and in transporting amino acids to the ribosome for protein assembly (tRNA).
ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is another nucleotide that is considered the fundamental molecule of energy transfer in the body, utilizing the addition or removal of phosphate groups to release or invest energy.