What are nucleic acids primarily composed of?

Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are primarily composed of nucleotides. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of three components: a nitrogenous base, a sugar (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA), and a phosphate group. These nucleotides link together through covalent bonds to form long chains or polymers that make up the structure of nucleic acids, facilitating the storage and transmission of genetic information.

The other options, while important biological molecules, do not relate to the composition of nucleic acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, fatty acids are components of lipids, and glycerol is part of triglycerides. Understanding this distinction is essential in biology, as it highlights the unique roles and structures of different macromolecules within living organisms.