Which statements explain the primary difference between the structure of a nucleic acid and the structure of a protein?

Question

Responses

A nucleic acid has alternating base pairs. A protein has alternating peptides.

A nucleic acid has alternating base pairs. A protein has alternating peptides.

Nitrogen bases form the backbone of a nucleic acid. Peptides form the backbone of a protein.

Nitrogen bases form the backbone of a nucleic acid. Peptides form the backbone of a protein.

Nucleotides link together to form a nucleic acid. Amino acids link together to form a protein.

Nucleotides link together to form a nucleic acid. Amino acids link together to form a protein.

A nucleic acid is held together by the sugar-phosphate complex. A protein is held together by the carbon-carbon bonds.

Answer 1

To explain the primary difference between the structure of a nucleic acid and the structure of a protein, the most accurate statements are:

1. Nucleotides link together to form a nucleic acid. Amino acids link together to form a protein.

This statement correctly identifies that nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides (which consist of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base), while proteins are made up of amino acids.

2. A nucleic acid is held together by the sugar-phosphate complex. A protein is held together by the carbon-carbon bonds.

While this statement is partially true, proteins are primarily held together by peptide bonds (which are covalent bonds formed between amino acids), not specifically carbon-carbon bonds. However, the concept that nucleic acids have a backbone consisting of sugar and phosphate is accurate.

Thus, the first statement regarding the linking of nucleotides and amino acids is the clearest and most informative difference.