Which molecules are very long, made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorous, and contain instructions for life functions?

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Multiple Choice

Which molecules are very long, made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorous, and contain instructions for life functions?

Nucleic acids are long carbon-based molecules that carry the instructions for life. They’re built from long chains of nucleotides, each with a sugar, a phosphate group (which provides phosphorus), and a nitrogenous base. The phosphorus-containing backbone links nucleotides together, giving these molecules their long, stable structure. The sequence of bases encodes genetic information, directing how organisms grow, develop, and function, and guiding the production of proteins and other essential processes. This combination of being very long and holding genetic instructions distinguishes nucleic acids from other major biomolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Nucleic acids are long carbon-based molecules that carry the instructions for life. They’re built from long chains of nucleotides, each with a sugar, a phosphate group (which provides phosphorus), and a nitrogenous base. The phosphorus-containing backbone links nucleotides together, giving these molecules their long, stable structure. The sequence of bases encodes genetic information, directing how organisms grow, develop, and function, and guiding the production of proteins and other essential processes. This combination of being very long and holding genetic instructions distinguishes nucleic acids from other major biomolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

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