Nucleic acids are chemical compounds found in all plant and animal cells, as well as in bacteria and viruses. There are two types of nucleic acid. DNA (desoxyribonucleic acid) is found in the nuclei of cells. RNA (ribonucleic acid) is found in the cytoplasm of cells. DNA is believed to be the hereditary material that passes the characteristics of living structures from one generation to the next.
Nucleic acids are normally combined with PROTEINS in the cell to form NUCLEOPROTEINS. The nucleic acid molecule is a combination of various purine and pyrimidine bases (cytosine, uracil, thymine, adenine, and guanine); a sugar (either desoxyribose or ribose); and phosphoric acid. Two main types are formed.
