Nucleic acids are biomolecules that are present in all living cells and are responsible for carrying genetic information from one generation to another. They are long chains of nucleotides that are formed by the repetition of three basic components: a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base. The two types of nucleic acids are DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). DNA contains the genetic code that determines the traits of an organism, while RNA is involved in the translation of that code to form proteins.
