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nucleic acid vs. amino acid

nucleic acid

[noo-klee-ik, -kley-, nyoo-] / nuˈkli ɪk, -ˈkleɪ-, nyu- /

noun

Biochemistry.

any of a group of long, linear macromolecules, either DNA or various types of RNA, that carry genetic information directing all cellular functions: composed of linked nucleotides.

amino acid

[uh-mee-noh as-id] / əˈmi noʊ ˈæs ɪd /

noun

Biochemistry.

any of a class of organic compounds that contains at least one amino group, –NH 2 , and one carboxyl group, –COOH: the alpha-amino acids, RCH(NH2 )COOH, are the building blocks from which proteins are constructed.