What are the components of nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, are made up of three primary components: a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA it is ribose. The phosphate group attaches to the sugar, forming the backbone of the nucleic acid structure, and the nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine for DNA; and adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine for RNA) attach to the sugar moiety, providing the information-carrying capacity of these molecules.

This specific combination of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base is crucial because it defines the structural and functional properties of nucleic acids, allowing them to store, transmit, and express genetic information. Understanding this composition is fundamental in the study of molecular biology and genetics.