Nucleic Acids Intro Nucleic acids are found in the nucleus. They include DNA and RNA. DNA comes with a complete set of instructions to make an entire organism.

Role of DNA While you are growing you need DNA to produce more cells. As an adult you also need DNA for growth, repair of damaged cells and to make proteins.

The Cell DNA directs the entire operation by issuing instructions to make things you need such as proteins to make skin, hair, nails, and enzymes. DNA allows organisms to make copies of themselves which is a requisite of life.

Chromosomes Inside the nucleus you find DNA packaged into chromosomes. You get one set of chromosomes from your mother and one set from you father. Each cell has 46 chromosomes arranged into 23 pairs.

Watson and Crick Watson and Crick are scientists that won the Nobel Peace Prize for discovering the structure of the DNA molecule. The four nitrogen bases found in DNA are: adenine cytosine guanine Thymine The shape of DNA is called the double helix.