nucleotides

Cultural  

1. The molecules that form the basic modular structure of the double helix of the DNA molecule. A nucleotide consists of three molecules — a sugar, a phosphate group, and a molecule called a base. If the double helix is a twisted ladder, the sugar and phosphates form the sides of the ladder and pairs of bases form the rungs. There are four different bases, usually abbreviated A, C, G, and T for adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine). The order of bases in DNA determines the genetic code.

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Example Sentences

"You're taking something in one language and translating it into another, nucleotides to amino acids."

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2026

Life also depends on membranes, nucleobases, and nucleotides.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

Amino acids, which make up proteins, or nucleotides, which make up DNA and RNA, are the same way.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

Normally, uridine nucleotides would be made and consumed to help make the genetic letter codes and fuel cell metabolism.

From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2024

Mutations also occur because of radioactivity or ultraviolet light from the Sun or cosmic rays or chemicals in the environment, all of which can change the nucleotides or tie the nucleic acids up in knots.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan