nucleic acid

== English == === Etymology === nucleic + acid; named for the fact that in eukaryotes, some of the important actions of such acids are especially associated with the nucleus of the cell. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /njuːˈkliː.ɪk ˈæsɪd/, /njuːˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæsɪd/ (US) IPA(key): /nuˈkleɪ.ɪk ˈæsɪd/ === Noun === nucleic acid (countable and uncountable, plural nucleic acids) (biochemistry, genetics) Any acidic, chainlike biological macromolecule consisting of multiple repeat units of phosphoric acid, sugar and purine and pyrimidine bases; they are involved in the preservation, replication and expression of hereditary information in every living cell ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === DNA RNA nucleoside nucleotide