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Multiple Choice

Which molecules carry genetic information and are made of nucleotides?

Genetic information is stored in nucleic acids, which are polymers built from nucleotides. Each nucleotide has a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these bases encodes the information necessary to build and regulate organisms. DNA is the primary genetic material in most organisms and is organized to pass information to offspring, while RNA also carries genetic information in some cases and plays a central role in translating that information into proteins. The other major biomolecule groups—proteins (made of amino acids), carbohydrates (made of sugar units), and lipids (fats and related compounds)—are not built from nucleotides, so they do not carry genetic information.

Genetic information is stored in nucleic acids, which are polymers built from nucleotides. Each nucleotide has a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these bases encodes the information necessary to build and regulate organisms. DNA is the primary genetic material in most organisms and is organized to pass information to offspring, while RNA also carries genetic information in some cases and plays a central role in translating that information into proteins. The other major biomolecule groups—proteins (made of amino acids), carbohydrates (made of sugar units), and lipids (fats and related compounds)—are not built from nucleotides, so they do not carry genetic information.