Question

How are nucleic acids used in the body?

Answer 1

Nucleic acids are macromolecules that are of utmost importance. These are polymeric compounds of nucleotides also called polynucleotides. Nucleotides are formed of three components- heterocyclic nitrogen bases, pentose sugar and phosphate groups.

Complete answer:
Nucleic acids are big molecules having complex structure and very high molecular weights. The nucleic acid molecule is composed of a large number of nucleotides joined in a linear and branched chain form.
The nucleic acids are classified into two classes: DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA or ribose nucleic acid.
-DNA is mainly found in the nucleus of all the living cells except some viruses. It is also reported in a number of cell organelles like mitochondria, plastids etc.
-DNA acts as genetic material in most of the organisms so it controls growth, development, reproduction, differentiation, etc.
-It controls the synthesis of structural proteins that regulate metabolism. Gene mutations in DNA produce variations in the population which help in speciation and evolution. So DNA forms the basis of life; it is rightly called blueprint.
-RNA is a present leader as freeform in the cytoplasm or in some organelles of cells like ribosomes, mitochondria and plastids. It is also reported in the chromosomes. In all plant viruses and some bacteriophages, RNA acts as a genetic material.
-The genetic RNA is involved in the transmission of characters through generation. For example, RNA viruses like TMV, HIV, Reovirus, etc. The non-genetic RNAs help in protein synthesis called translation.

Note: The nucleic acids store and transfer information needed for the synthesis of specific proteins that determine the structure and function of the cells. These are strong acids and were originally found in the nucleus hence named the nucleic acids.