To understand the component parts of a single DNA nucleotide, let's break down the structure of a DNA nucleotide step-by-step:
1. Pentose Sugar: This is a sugar molecule that has five carbon atoms. In the case of DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose.
2. Phosphate Group: This is a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. The phosphate group forms the backbone of the DNA structure, linking together the pentose sugars of neighboring nucleotides.
3. Nitrogenous Base: This is a nitrogen-containing molecule that has the properties of a base. There are four types of nitrogenous bases in DNA: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
Given these details, the correct components of a single DNA nucleotide are a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a base.
Thus, the correct answer is:
- a pentose sugar, a phosphate group and a base