nucleic acid

any of various macromolecules that are vital constituents of all living cells

• deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, DNA — a nucleic acid found in the nucleus of a cell and consisting of a polymer formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
• ribonucleic acid, RNA — a large nucleic acid molecule found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; consists of a linear polymer of nucleotides; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell

• macromolecule, supermolecule — any very large complex molecule; found only in plants and animals