How are nucleotides linked together in a nucleic acid chain?

Nucleotides are linked together in a nucleic acid chain through a process called dehydration synthesis, also known as condensation reactions. During this process, a molecule of water is removed as a bond forms between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another. This results in the formation of a covalent bond known as a phosphodiester bond.

While dehydration synthesis is primarily responsible for forming these bonds, it’s important to note that the resulting bonds are a type of covalent bond, which provides stability to the nucleic acid structure. The covalent bonds formed between nucleotides create a strong backbone for the DNA or RNA strands, allowing the genetic material to maintain its integrity and function effectively.

Thus, while both dehydration synthesis and covalent bonding are involved in linking nucleotides, the correct focus here is the mechanism of dehydration synthesis that specifically facilitates the linkage during nucleotide polymerization.