Which of the following are examples of nucleic acids?

• A. Proteins
• B. DNA and RNA
• C. Lipids
• D. Carbohydrates

Answer: (B)

Nucleic acids are polymers made from nucleotide units that store and transmit genetic information in cells. DNA and RNA are the two main examples of nucleic acids. DNA carries the genetic blueprint and is typically double-stranded, using deoxyribose sugar and the bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. RNA helps convert that information into proteins and is usually single-stranded, using ribose sugar and the bases adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine. Because nucleic acids are built from nucleotides, their specific sequence encodes genetic information and their structure enables reading and copying that information during cellular processes.

The other listed biomolecules belong to different classes. Proteins are polymers of amino acids with diverse roles as enzymes, structural components, and signaling molecules. Lipids are a diverse group that includes fats and membrane components, primarily involved in energy storage and membrane structure. Carbohydrates are sugars and their polymers that store energy and provide support in cells. These are not nucleic acids.