Nucleic Acid
What is Nucleic Acid?
Found in all living organisms, Nucleic acid is a biological molecule made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acid is made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus atoms. Nucleic acid is essential to all living organisms. Quite possibly the most important macromolecule, Nucleic acid stores and transmits hereditary, or genetic, info throughout the body. The monomers are called nucleotides. Nucleic Acids are linear polymers. Each nucleotide contains a pentose sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nucleic base. DNA is probably the most complex molecule known. The difference between DNA and RNA are in the composition and the use. DNA is double stranded and carries the genetic instructions used in the development and functions of all living organisms. RNA is only single stranded and is used to convert the genes into amino acid sequences.