nucleic acids

A nucleic acid is a large biochemical macromolecule composed of chains of nucleotides coding genetic information. The most common nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids are found in all living cells – prokaryotes and eukaryotes – and in viruses. Monomeric nucleic acids are called nucleotides – each consists of a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (either a purine or a pyrimidine), a five-ring pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.