184 nucleotides are bonded in a linear array, forming a nucleic acid. How many molecules of water were formed as a result of this polymerization? (Points: 4)
a. 183
b. 185
c. 92
d. 368
Hint: Nucleotides are linked together by dehydration synthesis to form polynucleotides. This bond is a phosphodiester bond. So if each bond gives of a water molecule there would be one less water molecule than nucleotides.
183
To answer this question, we need to understand how nucleotides are bonded together in a linear array. Nucleotides are linked together through a process called dehydration synthesis, which forms a phosphodiester bond between adjacent nucleotides. During this bonding process, a water molecule is released.
Given that 184 nucleotides are bonded together, we can use the information from the hint to determine the number of water molecules formed. Each phosphodiester bond results in the release of one water molecule. Since there are 183 phosphodiester bonds in a linear chain of 184 nucleotides, we can infer that 183 water molecules were formed as a result of this polymerization.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
a. 183