Which of the following elements is NOT a component of nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, are essential biomolecules that store and transmit genetic information. Their fundamental components are nucleotides, which consist of three parts: a phosphate group, a sugar (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA), and a nitrogenous base. The elements that make up nucleic acids include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

Calcium, while important for various biological functions such as muscle contraction and cellular signaling, is not a building block of nucleic acids. It does not participate in the structure or function of DNA or RNA and therefore does not play a role in genetic material. The presence of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in nucleic acids confirms their role as essential components of these molecules, whereas calcium is unrelated to their structure.