Question

You come across an article on alien nucleic acid structure. The article states that researchers have discovered a new single-ring nucleotide. Based on your knowledge of nucleic acids here on Earth, which of the following characteristics might apply to this new nucleotide? Select all that apply:

a.) Double-stranded structure
b.) Triple-ring composition
c.) Found in RNA
d.) Present in DNA

Answer 1

The article states that a new single-ring nucleotide has been discovered. This nucleotide can be found in DNA and RNA, but it is not double-stranded or triple-ring.

Step-by-step explanation:

d. DNA is composed of nucleotides with a 5 carbon sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base. It is a double helical structure in which complementary base pairing occurs. Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. The two individual strands of DNA are held together by covalent bonds between the phosphate of one nucleotide and sugar of the next.

c. RNA is a single-stranded polymer of nucleotides. It contains the sugar ribose and the nucleotide uracil rather than thymine. Various RNA molecules function in the process of forming proteins from the genetic code in DNA.