What are nucleic acids made of?

Nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, are polymers made up of monomers called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA), and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of nucleotides in a nucleic acid molecule encodes genetic information, playing a crucial role in storing and transmitting hereditary information in living organisms.

The choice of nucleotide monomers as the correct answer highlights the fundamental structure of nucleic acids, distinguishing them from other biological macromolecules such as proteins, which are composed of amino acids, and lipids, which are made up of fatty acids. This understanding of the building blocks of nucleic acids is essential for studying genetic processes and molecular biology.