What are nucleic acids? Mention their two important functions.

Explanation

Nucleic acids are biomolecules which are found in the nuclei in the form of nucleoproteins or chromosomes (protein containing nucleic acids as the prosthetic group).
Nucleic acids are of two types: deoxyribonucleic acid `(DNA)` and ribonucleic acid `(RNA)`. The two main functions of nucleic acid are:
(i). `DNA` is responsible for the transmission of hereditary effects from one generation to another.this is due to the unique property of replication. During cell division two identical `DNA` strands are transferred to the doughter cells.
(ii). `DNA` and `RNA` are reponsible for the growth and maintenance of our body. Actually the proteins are synthesised by various `RNA` molecules `(r-RNA, m-RNA`, and `t-RNA)` in the cell but the message for the synthesis of a particular protein is present in the `DNA`.