The structure of nucleic acid A nucleotide is made up of three parts that are attached by bonds. The three parts are a phosphate group, a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogen base.

Molecules of DNA, one of life’s two types of nucleic acid, are far longer still. The shortest DNA molecules found in humans are about 17,000 nucleotides long; the longest consist of over 100m.

Co-polymerization of glycol nucleic acid monomers with dicarboxylic acids in simulated early Earth drying environments readily gives rise to plausible prebiotic xeno nucleic acid co-polymers ...