Answer:
Nucleic acids
Explanation:
Nucleic acids are big molecules that constitute the genetic material of all organisms, they are required for the storage and expression of the genetic information.
There are two different types of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. The DNA stores the genetic information and it is located in the chromosomes, mitochondria, and chloroplast of the eukaryotic cells. In the prokaryotic cells is in the only chromosome and in the extrachromosomal plasmids.
On the other hand, the RNA interferes in the information contained in the DNA towards the cell compartments. In eukaryotic cells, it is in the nucleus, the cytoplasm, the mitochondrial matrix, and the chloroplast stroma. Meanwhile, in the prokaryotic cells, RNA is located in the cytosol.
The basic unit of the nucleic acids is a nucleotide, an organic molecule composed of 3 components:
- nitrogen base, purine or pyrimidine
- pentose, one ribose or one deoxyribose depending on the type of nucleic acid.
- phosphate group, that cause negative charges to the nucleic acids and gives the characteristics of the acid.
The nucleic acids are super-condensed in the chromosomes, the total length of all DNA in the cell nucleus, uncoiled, would be 3 kilometers.
