These are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. This section deals with nucleic acids. There are two sorts of nucleic acid. DNA is found in eukaryotic cells such as plants and animals, and in prokaryotic cells such as bacteria. It forms genes which carry the information necessary to produce the enzymes which control reactions in cells.
Genes also control the production of other proteins produced by living organisms.
You will find out more about this substance when you study the section on protein synthesis. Use the animation to find out more about what nucleic acids do. If you cannot see the Flash Movie playing then you may not have the flash player installed. Now learn more about the structure of DNA by first finding out about the nucleotides from which the molecule is built up.