What are nucleotides?

Nucleotides are indeed individual units of DNA strands. They serve as the building blocks for nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group. In the context of DNA, these nucleotides link together to form long chains that make up the DNA helix, with the sequence of these nitrogenous bases encoding genetic information.

Understanding the structure and function of nucleotides is fundamental in the study of genetics and molecular biology, as they play a crucial role not just in the formation of DNA, but also in energy transfer (for example, ATP is a nucleotide) and signaling within cells. This reflects their central importance in biological processes.