Q25 / 200 · MHT CET - Medical 2026 (21 April Shift 2) · Biology

Which chemical element is found in high amounts in nuclein?

  • Correct answer
    A
    Phosphorus
  • B
    Sulphur
  • C
    Carbon
  • D
    Oxygen

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: Phosphorus

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.

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