Nucleic Acid - GCSE Biology Definition

Nucleic acids are large molecules found in the cells of all living organisms and are essential for life. They carry the genetic information needed to make proteins, which are vital for the structure and function of cells. There are two main types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). DNA stores the instructions that determine inherited traits and is passed from parents to offspring, while RNA reads these instructions and helps build proteins. Nucleic acids are made of smaller building blocks called nucleotides, which join together in long chains. Understanding nucleic acids is important for studying genetics and how living organisms function.