Deoxynucleotide

Definition

Deoxynucleotide is a molecule consisting of a nitrogenous base, a deoxyribose sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. It is the basic building block of DNA.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Deoxynucleotides are essential for DNA replication and sequencing.
2. There are four types of deoxynucleotides in DNA: dATP, dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP.
3. In whole-genome sequencing, deoxynucleotides are used to synthesize new strands of DNA.
4. Deoxynucleotides can be labeled with fluorescent tags for detection during sequencing.
5. Mutations in the sequence of deoxynucleotides can lead to genetic disorders.

Review Questions

Related terms

Nucleotide: A molecule consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and one or more phosphate groups.

DNA Polymerase: An enzyme that synthesizes new strands of DNA by adding nucleotides to an existing strand.

Whole-Genome Sequencing:

A laboratory process that determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time.