BACK TO nucleic acid

nucleic acid vs. amino acid

nucleic acid

[ noo-klee-ik, -kley-, nyoo- ]
noun
  1. any of a group of long, linear macromolecules, either DNA or various types of RNA, that carry genetic information directing all cellular functions: composed of linked nucleotides.

amino acid

[ uh-mee-noh as-id ]
noun
  1. any of a class of organic compounds that contains at least one amino group, –NH2, and one carboxyl group, –COOH: the alpha-amino acids, RCH(NH2)COOH, are the building blocks from which proteins are constructed.