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 – karyotes 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.