Question

What are nucleic acids? Mention their two important functions?

Answer 1

As we know that nucleic acids are the biomolecules which are found in the nuclei of the cells in the form of nucleoproteins or chromosomes. Nucleic acids are of two types which are: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). So we need to think about the functions of DNA and RNA in the body of various organisms.

Complete answer:
Let us first understand about nucleic acids:-
-Nucleic acids: These are the biomolecules found in the nuclei of all the living cells, as part of the chromosomes. These are composed of nucleotides which are the monomers made of three components that are a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group. These are also called as polynucleotides as they consist of long chain polymers of nucleotides. Nucleic acids are mainly of 2 types:-
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
The two main functions of nucleic acids are as follows:-
(A)Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is responsible for the transmission of hereditary effects from one generation to another due to its unique property of replication during cell division and hence two identical DNA strands are transferred to the daughter cells.
(B) Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA) are responsible for the synthesis of all the proteins needed for the growth and maintenance of our body.

Note:
It should be known that Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is actually responsible for the sole synthesis of proteins by various molecules such as r-RNA, m-RNA and t-RNA in the cell but the message for the synthesis of a particular kind of protein is coded by the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
-Both DNA and RNA contain 4 nitrogenous bases which are as follows:-
DNA: Adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine
RNA: Adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil