Nucleotides make up this macromolecule, identify the macromolecule. Describe the function and provide an example of this macromolecule.
The macromolecule being referred to is nucleic acids. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids. They consist of a sugar molecule (either ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine in DNA, and uracil in RNA). DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are the two main types of nucleic acids.
The function of nucleic acids is to store, transmit, and express genetic information. DNA carries the genetic instructions necessary for the development and functioning of all living organisms. It stores and passes on hereditary information from parents to offspring. RNA, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in translating the genetic information stored in DNA into proteins.
An example of nucleic acid is DNA. It constitutes the genetic material present in the cells of all living organisms, including humans. DNA contains the instructions for building and maintaining an organism, determining its physical traits, and carrying out its physiological processes. For instance, it determines the color of our eyes, the structure of our bones, and the functioning of our immune system.