What are the building blocks of DNA called?

The building blocks of DNA are called nucleotides, which are essential components of the DNA structure. Each nucleotide is composed of three parts: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose in the case of DNA), and a nitrogenous base (which can be adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine). These nucleotides link together to form long chains, establishing the double helix structure that characterizes DNA.

This chain formation allows the sequences of the nitrogenous bases to carry genetic information, which is critical for the process of replication and protein synthesis in living organisms. Understanding that nucleotides are the fundamental units that make up DNA is key to grasping concepts in genetics and molecular biology.