The nucleic acid is an important molecule in living organisms. Nucleic acid functions as the blueprint for genetic information. Understanding the nucleic acid structure and functions helps in deciphering the genetic code, which contains instructions for building and maintaining living organisms. In this article, we will cover nucleic acid definition, structure, functions, formula and more. The word " nucleic acid " is used to describe specific big molecules found in cells. Properties of Nucleic Acid : Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acid . These make up all living things' genetic material. In a live cell, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are two forms of nucleic acids . The term nucleic acid is the overall name for DNA and RNA, members of a family of biopolymers, [13] and is a type of polynucleotide. Nucleic acids were named for their initial discovery within the nucleus, and for the presence of phosphate groups (related to phosphoric acid ). [14] Although first discovered within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, nucleic acids are now known to be found in all life forms including within bacteria, archaea, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and viruses (There is ... Module 14 Nucleic Acids Lecture 36 Nucleic Acids I Nucleic acids are targets of many important drugs, including several anticancer agents. There are two types of nucleic acids : deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA encodes the hereditary details and controls the growth and division of the cells. The genetic information stored in DNA is then transcribed into RNA, and the details in RNA are then translated for the synthesis of the proteins.