The reaction where a phosphate groups bond to a nucleotides to form a nucleic acid molecule is known as ___.
A
Phosphodiester bond
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B
Oxidation
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C
Dehydration synthesis
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D
Transesterification reaction
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Solution
The correct option is C
Dehydration synthesis
The monomers combine with each other via covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers. In doing so, monomers release water molecules as byproducts. This type of reaction is known as dehydration synthesis, which means "to put together while losing water''. When nucleic acids are formed, the phosphate group at the C-5' of the sugar reacts with the free -OH group on the 3'-C, losing a water molecule and forming the phosphodiester bond. When a polynucleotide is formed in this manner, the process is called dehydration synthesis.