Oligonucleotides are formed by linking the phosphate groups of individual nucleotides. This is an example of which type of polymer?

Oligonucleotides are formed by linking the phosphate groups of individual nucleotides. This is an example of which type of polymer?

• A. Short chains of nucleotides linked by phosphate groups.
• B. Amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
• C. Polysaccharides formed by glycosidic bonds.
• D. Fatty acids linked in ester bonds.

Answer: (A)

Nucleic acids are polymers made from nucleotides joined by phosphodiester bonds, which link the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the sugar of the next. Oligonucleotides are simply short chains of nucleotides, so this example fits a nucleic acid polymer formed by nucleotides connected through phosphate-containing linkages. The other options describe different biomolecule polymers: proteins are made of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, polysaccharides by glycosidic bonds, and lipids by ester bonds.

Nucleic acids are polymers made from nucleotides joined by phosphodiester bonds, which link the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the sugar of the next. Oligonucleotides are simply short chains of nucleotides, so this example fits a nucleic acid polymer formed by nucleotides connected through phosphate-containing linkages. The other options describe different biomolecule polymers: proteins are made of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, polysaccharides by glycosidic bonds, and lipids by ester bonds.