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nucleotides

/ˈnjuːkliəˌtaɪdz/ /ˈnuːkliəˌtaɪdz/

Meanings
noun
The monomer constituting DNA or RNA biopolymer molecules. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (or nucleobase), which can be either a double-ringed purine or a single-ringed pyrimidine; a five-carbon pentose sugar (deoxyribose in DNA or ribose in RNA); and a phosphate group.

Examples :

"The DNA in our cells is made of long chains of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate, and a base. "
biochemistry biology chemistry science structure compound organism function

Related Words

Illustration nucleotide

nucleotide noun

/ˈnjuːkliəˌtaɪd/ /ˈnukliəˌtaɪd/

The monomer constituting DNA or RNA biopolymer molecules. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (or nucleobase), which can be either a double-ringed purine or a single-ringed pyrimidine; a five-carbon pentose sugar (deoxyribose in DNA or ribose in RNA); and a phosphate group.

"The DNA in your cells is made up of many nucleotides. "

Illustration biopolymer

biopolymer noun

/ˌbaɪoʊˈpɑlɪmər/ /ˌbaɪəˈpɑlɪmər/

Any macromolecule of a living organism that is formed from the polymerization of smaller entities; a polymer that occurs in a living organism or results from life.

"Cellulose, a key component of plant cell walls, is a biopolymer made from glucose. "

Illustration nitrogenous

nitrogenous adjective

/naɪˈtrɑdʒənəs/ /nəˈtrɑdʒənəs/

Of, relating to, or containing nitrogen

"Plant fertilizer often contains nitrogenous compounds to help plants grow. "

Illustration deoxyribose

deoxyribose noun

/diˌɑksiˈraɪboʊs/ /diˌɑksiˈraɪboʊz/

A derivative of the pentose sugar ribose in which the 2' hydroxyl (-OH) is reduced to a hydrogen (H); it is a constituent of the nucleotides that constitute the biopolymer, deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.

"The structure of DNA includes the sugar deoxyribose, which forms the backbone of the molecule. "

Illustration pyrimidine

pyrimidine noun

/paɪˈɹɪ.mɪˌdiːn/

A diazine in which the two nitrogen atoms are in the meta- positions; it is the basis of three of the bases found in DNA and RNA: thymine, uracil and cytosine

"In biology class, we learned that cytosine, thymine, and uracil, three important building blocks of DNA and RNA, are all types of pyrimidine bases. "

Illustration containing

containing verb

/kənˈteɪnɪŋ/

To hold inside.

"The box containing my old toys was stored in the attic. "

Illustration consists

consists verb

/kənˈsɪsts/

To be.

"Our lunch consists of a sandwich, an apple, and a drink. "

Illustration heterocyclic

heterocyclic noun

/ˌhɛtəroʊˈsaɪklɪk/ /ˌhɛtərəˈsaɪklɪk/

A heterocycle

"The pharmaceutical company is researching a new drug that contains a specific heterocycle known for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. "

Illustration phosphate

phosphate noun

/ˈfɒsfeɪt/ /ˈfɑsfeɪt/

Any salt or ester of phosphoric acid.

"Plants need phosphate in the soil to grow strong roots. "

Illustration constituting

constituting verb

/ˈkɒnstɪˌtjuːtɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːnstəˌtuːtɪŋ/

To set up; to establish; to enact.

"The school principal is constituting a new student advisory board to improve communication. "

Illustration monomer

monomer noun

/ˈmɒnəmə/ /ˈmɑnəmɚ/

A relatively small molecule which can be covalently bonded to other monomers to form a polymer.

"A glucose molecule is a monomer that can link together with other glucose monomers to form the polymer called starch. "

Illustration molecules

molecules noun

/ˈmɑːlɪkjuːlz/ /ˈmɒlɪkjuːlz/

The smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains the chemical properties of that element or compound; two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.

"Hydrogen chloride is a diatomic molecule, consisting of a hydrogen atom and a chlorine atom."