MHT CET Medical202621 April 2026Evening ShiftBiologyBiomolecules (B)Actual
Which chemical element is found in high amounts in nuclein?
Options
- APhosphorus
- BSulphur
- CCarbon
- DOxygen
Correct answer
A. Phosphorus
Step-by-step solution
Nuclein was the term originally coined by Friedrich Miescher for the substance he discovered in the nuclei of white blood cells, which is now known as nucleic acid (DNA and RNA). Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides, which consist of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. Because of the phosphate backbone, nuclein contains a high amount of phosphorus. Miescher specifically noted that nuclein was rich in phosphorus and lacked sulphur, which helped distinguish it from proteins. Answer: Phosp