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

While they are not themselves components of living cells, they may represent early steps in the chain of reactions that eventually produce amino acids and nucleotides.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

Life also depends on membranes, nucleobases, and nucleotides.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

DNA and RNA consist of chains of smaller units known as nucleotides, while proteins are built from amino acids.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2026

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

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

The four nucleotides were not, however, completely different, for each contained the same sugar and phosphate components.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson