National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

The core component of DNA that carries genetic instructions is nucleotides. Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and are composed of three key parts: a phosphate group, a sugar (deoxyribose in the case of DNA), and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine). The sequence of these nitrogenous bases along the DNA strands encodes the genetic information that is essential for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms.

Understanding the structure of DNA is crucial to grasp how genetic information is stored and transmitted. Nucleotides link together to form long chains, which then twist into the characteristic double helix structure of DNA. This arrangement allows for the efficient storage of genetic information, as well as the ability to replicate and transmit this information during cell division.

In summary, nucleotides serve as the foundational units in the structure of DNA, carrying the genetic instructions necessary for life.