Nucleic acids are polymers of

Options

A. nucleosides
B. sugars
C. bases
D. nucleotides

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Nucleic Acids**: Nucleic acids are essential biomolecules that carry genetic information in living organisms. There are two primary types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).

2. **Structure of Nucleic Acids**:
- DNA is structured as a double helix and is composed of long chains.
- RNA is typically a single-stranded molecule and also consists of long chains.

3. **Identifying the Monomer**: To determine what nucleic acids are polymers of, we need to identify their building blocks (monomers).
- The monomers of nucleic acids are nucleotides.

4. **Formation of Nucleotides**:
- A nucleotide is formed by the combination of three components: a sugar molecule (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA), a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.
- When a sugar molecule bonds with a nitrogenous base, a nucleoside is formed. However, a nucleoside alone does not constitute a nucleic acid.

5. **Polymerization of Nucleotides**: When multiple nucleotides link together through phosphodiester bonds, they form a nucleic acid. This process is known as polymerization.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides.

**Final Answer**: Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides.

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