Which of the following are the basic units of nucleic acids?

Nucleotides are the fundamental building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. Each nucleotide is composed of three components: a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA), and at least one phosphate group. Nucleotides link together through phosphodiester bonds to form long chains, creating the structure of nucleic acids. This arrangement allows for the storage and transmission of genetic information within cells.

The other options do not relate to nucleic acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play no direct role in nucleic acid structure. Monosaccharides are simple sugars that serve as the basic units of carbohydrates, while fatty acids are components of lipids, such as triglycerides and phospholipids. Each of these biomolecules has different structures and functions that are distinct from those of nucleic acids, underscoring the unique role of nucleotides in genetic information processing and storage.