Which components are involved in the formation of the DNA double helix?

The formation of the DNA double helix primarily involves nucleotides and hydrogen bonds. Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA, each composed of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. When nucleotides align, their nitrogenous bases pair specifically—adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine—through hydrogen bonds. These bonds provide the stability and structure necessary for the double helix formation.

The interaction between the sugar and phosphate of one nucleotide and the phosphate and sugar of another creates the backbone of the DNA strand, while the hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases form the rungs of the helical ladder structure. This essential pairing is crucial for the fidelity of genetic information transfer and replication.

Other options, such as proteins and amino acids, do not directly contribute to the structural integrity of the DNA double helix. Ribose and phosphate are components of RNA rather than DNA, and fatty acids and amino acids are associated with lipids and proteins, respectively, and not with nucleic acids at all. This specificity highlights the unique role of nucleotides and hydrogen bonding in maintaining the structure and function of DNA.