Which macromolecule contains hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus and makes up the genetic information in cells and functions in protein production?

• A. Proteins
• B. Lipids
• C. Nucleotides
• D. Nucleic Acids

Answer: (D)

Nucleic acids.

They are polymers made of nucleotides, each with a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The phosphate group provides phosphorus, so these macromolecules contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus. Nucleic acids store genetic information (DNA) and, through transcription and translation, direct the production of proteins (RNA components such as mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA participate in this process). This distinguishes them from proteins (polymers of amino acids, no genetic storage role), lipids (mainly fats and membranes, not genetic information), and nucleotides (the monomer units, not the macromolecule itself).