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Question
Which of the following best describes the structural difference between a nucleoside and a nucleotide?
Options
A nucleoside lacks the phosphate group; a nucleotide contains all three components (base, sugar, and phosphate)
A nucleoside is found in DNA; a nucleotide is found in RNA
A nucleoside contains only the phosphate group; a nucleotide contains the base and sugar
A nucleoside has a ribose sugar; a nucleotide has a deoxyribose sugar
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Solution
A nucleoside consists of a nitrogenous base combined with a pentose sugar (lacking the phosphate group). A nucleotide is a nucleoside plus one or more phosphate groups. The addition of the phosphate group distinguishes a nucleotide from a nucleoside and allows nucleotides to link together via phosphodiester bonds to form polynucleotide chains.
