Final answer:
During the digestion of nucleic acids, pentose sugars, nitrogenous bases, and phosphate ions are absorbed. These are derived from the breakdown of DNA and RNA into nucleotides by specific enzymes in the digestive system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nucleic Acid Digestion and Absorption
When nucleic acids are digested, the molecules that can be absorbed are pentose sugars, nitrogenous bases, and phosphate ions. These are the basic constituents of nucleotides, which are further utilized in nucleic acid metabolism. During digestion, nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA from the food we eat are broken down into these nucleotides by pancreatic nuclease enzymes: deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease. Further hydrolysis by nucleosidases and phosphatases in the small intestine release these molecules, which are then actively transported across the villus epithelium into the bloodstream. They are eventually taken up by cells to be used for various metabolic processes.