Final answer:
The four types of nucleotides are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T), each with different structures and properties. The number of phosphates attached to a nucleotide can vary, affecting its functionality. Ribose and deoxyribose differ in the presence or absence of an oxygen atom at the 2' carbon of the sugar structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four types of nucleotides are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Adenine and guanine are double-ringed purines, while cytosine and thymine are smaller, single-ringed pyrimidines. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and one or more phosphate groups. The number of phosphates attached to the nucleotide differs, with some nucleotides having one phosphate group (mono- or monophosphate) and others having two or three phosphate groups (di- or triphosphate).
The difference between ribose and deoxyribose lies in their sugar structure. Ribose, found in RNA, has an OH (hydroxyl) group attached to the 2' carbon, while deoxyribose, found in DNA, lacks an oxygen atom and has a hydrogen (H) group instead at the 2' carbon.