--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nucleic acids are the main…" description: "\"Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/richard-j-roberts-28065_dna_nucleic-acids-are-the-main-information-c_3015846.jpg" --- # Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules… ![“Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited characteristics of every living thing. The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).” quote by Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/richard-j-roberts-28065_dna_nucleic-acids-are-the-main-information-c_3015846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/richard-j-roberts-28065_dna_nucleic-acids-are-the-main-information-c_3015846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/richard-j-roberts-28065_dna_nucleic-acids-are-the-main-information-c_3015846.jpg) > “Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited characteristics of every living thing. The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).” [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nucleic acids store genetic data and guide protein creation, shaping traits of organisms. **In simple terms:** DNA and RNA hold genetic instructions. Key Takeaway Study genetics to understand inheritance. Themes biology genetics inheritance Mood curious analytical Type educational informative When to use this quote - medical research - education - biotech development Key Concepts DNA RNA protein synthesis Questions to Reflect On - How do mutations affect traits? - What role does RNA play beyond coding? A Different Perspective Complex traits involve many genes and environmental factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acids Deoxyribonucleic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acids-deoxyribonucleic-4857601/) [Classes Nucleic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classes-nucleic-4857602/) [Deoxyribonucleic Acid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deoxyribonucleic-acid-4846453/) [Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Nucleic Acids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nucleic-acids-1988677/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Protein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protein/) [Ribonucleic Acid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ribonucleic-acid-4857600/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [The nucleic acids, as constituents of living organisms, are comparable In importance to proteins. There is evidence that they are Involved In the processes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-nucleic-acids-as-constituents-of-living-organisms-are-comparable/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [“Nature ended up with the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule, DNA.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/nature-ended-up-with-the-deoxyribonucleic-acid-molecule-dna/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [The results serve to disprove the tetranucleotide hypothesis. It is, however, noteworthy-whether this is more than accidental, cannot yet be said-that in all desoxypentose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-chargaff/the-results-serve-to-disprove-the-tetranucleotide-hypothesis-it-is/) [Erwin Chargaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-chargaff/) > [If the results of the present study on the chemical nature of the transforming principle are confirmed, then nucleic acids must be regarded as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-results-of-the-present-study-on-the-chemical-nature-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In this atmosphere I soon became interested in nucleic acids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/in-this-atmosphere-i-soon-became-interested-in-nucleic-acids/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [“We humans look rather different from a tree. Without a doubt we perceive the world differently than a tree does. But down deep, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-humans-look-rather-different-from-a-tree-without-a-doubt-we-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are, in a way, temporary ambulatory repositories for our nucleic acids. This does not deny our humanity; it does not prevent us from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-are-in-a-way-temporary-ambulatory-repositories-for-our-nucleic/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are now witnessing, after the slow fermentation of fifty years, a concentration of technical power aimed at the essential determinants of heredity, development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-darlington/we-are-now-witnessing-after-the-slow-fermentation-of-fifty-years-a/) [C. D. Darlington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-darlington/) > [I think you can say that life is a system in which proteins and nucleic acids interact in ways that allow the structure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-h-knoll/i-think-you-can-say-that-life-is-a-system-in-which-proteins-and/) [Andrew H. Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-h-knoll/) > [The nucleic acids have considerable biological importance because of their role in cell growth and in the transmission of hereditary characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severo-ochoa/the-nucleic-acids-have-considerable-biological-importance-because-of/) [Severo Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severo-ochoa/) > [“the transforming principle could not be made of DNA because nucleic acids were all alike. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/the-transforming-principle-could-not-be-made-of-dna-because-nucleic/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [Synchrotron light has revolutionized the field of protein crystallography. It has made it possible to look at much larger structures with much smaller crystals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-petsko/synchrotron-light-has-revolutionized-the-field-of-protein/) [Gregory Petsko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-petsko/) > [What every human being should do is eat a vegetarian diet based on whole foods. Period. That's it. Animal protein is bad for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/what-every-human-being-should-do-is-eat-a-vegetarian-diet-based-on/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [While traveling, I love granola bars, trail mix nuts, dry cereal and fruit for on-the-go snacks. I also try and start the day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-rampone/while-traveling-i-love-granola-bars-trail-mix-nuts-dry-cereal-and/) [Christie Rampone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-rampone/) > [The key to finding protein for your snacks when you're on the go is making sure said snacks don't need to be refrigerated, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/the-key-to-finding-protein-for-your-snacks-when-you-re-on-the-go-is/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) ## More by Richard J. Roberts > [My elementary education was at Christ Church infant school and St. Stephen's junior school. At St. Stephen's, I encountered my first real mentor, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/my-elementary-education-was-at-christ-church-infant-school-and-st/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [The battle over genetically modified crops is rife with business interests and political opportunism. When GMOs were first produced in laboratories around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/the-battle-over-genetically-modified-crops-is-rife-with-business/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [The strands of the DNA double helix are held together by hydrogen bonding interactions between the complementary base pairs. Heating DNA in solution easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/the-strands-of-the-dna-double-helix-are-held-together-by-hydrogen/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [Modern genetic engineering makes producing GMO food products relatively easy. GMOs can improve crop yield and greatly enhance the nutritional value of those same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/modern-genetic-engineering-makes-producing-gmo-food-products/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [Much of my work in biology has been driven by my early training in chemistry. When studying a new chemical compound, the first and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/much-of-my-work-in-biology-has-been-driven-by-my-early-training-in/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [There is need for more science in politics and less politics in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/there-is-need-for-more-science-in-politics-and-less-politics-in/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [I am a passionate reader, having been tutored very early by my mother. I avidly devoured all books on chemistry that I could find.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/i-am-a-passionate-reader-having-been-tutored-very-early-by-my-mother/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [PubMed Central is vital for researchers and the public alike. Only through free access can everyone find out where the cutting edge of research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/pubmed-central-is-vital-for-researchers-and-the-public-alike-only/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [I was first exposed to the idea of macro-molecular sequences while I was a postdoctoral fellow with Jack Strominger at Harvard. During that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/i-was-first-exposed-to-the-idea-of-macro-molecular-sequences-while-i/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [Hard as it is to imagine, there's a move afoot in Congress to take away the public's free online access to tax-funded medical research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/hard-as-it-is-to-imagine-there-s-a-move-afoot-in-congress-to-take/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [From age 16 on, I found school boring and failed A-level Physics at my first attempt. This was necessary for university entrance, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/from-age-16-on-i-found-school-boring-and-failed-a-level-physics-at-my/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [DNA is the master blueprint for life and constitutes the genetic material in all free-living organisms and most viruses. RNA is the genetic material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/dna-is-the-master-blueprint-for-life-and-constitutes-the-genetic/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [Each year, several million children either die or suffer irreparable developmental defects because of vitamin A deficiency. Countless others are harmed by malnutrition and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/each-year-several-million-children-either-die-or-suffer-irreparable/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [The way health care is funded in the U.S. is not sustainable. People are being kept alive who are probably better off dead. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/the-way-health-care-is-funded-in-the-u-s-is-not-sustainable-people/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [During normal cell metabolism, RNA is constantly being made and broken down. The purine and pyrimidine residues are reused by several salvage pathways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/during-normal-cell-metabolism-rna-is-constantly-being-made-and-broken/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) [Explore all 20 Richard J. Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) ## More Dna quotes > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Would a DNA test for love take a sample from the heart or the mind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/would-a-dna-test-for-love-take-a-sample-from-the-heart-or-the-mind/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [There are certain things that make restaurants work and a certain kind of DNA that people who excel in restaurants need. But it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/there-are-certain-things-that-make-restaurants-work-and-a-certain/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [One glance and I knew exactly who and what he was. The classic alpha male, the kind who had spurred evolution forward about five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-glance-and-i-knew-exactly-who-and-what-he-was-the-classic-alpha/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [Music is in my DNA!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/music-is-in-my-dna/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When I get really down, I remember that we all share 99.99 per cent of our DNA with Beyonce. And suddenly, the world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/when-i-get-really-down-i-remember-that-we-all-share-99-99-per-cent-of/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [The way we think may be completely different, but you and I are an ancient, archetypal couple, the original man and woman. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/the-way-we-think-may-be-completely-different-but-you-and-i-are-an/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Retirement is just not in my DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/retirement-is-just-not-in-my-dna/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [Nuclear DNA encodes all the proteins and enzymes that make you you, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-poinar/nuclear-dna-encodes-all-the-proteins-and-enzymes-that-make-you-you/) [Hendrik Poinar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-poinar/) > [If you really want to be a good archaeologist, you have to understand ancient DNA; you have to understand chemical analysis to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-good-archaeologist-you-have-to-understand/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [The no-subscription fee was so much in our DNA from the original 'Guild Wars': that we would get a smaller market but willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-grubb/the-no-subscription-fee-was-so-much-in-our-dna-from-the-original/) [Jeff Grubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-grubb/) > [“So while Pauling struggled with his model, Watson and Crick turned theirs inside out, so the negative phosphorus ions wouldn’t touch. This gave them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kean/so-while-pauling-struggled-with-his-model-watson-and-crick-turned/) [Sam Kean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kean/) > [While love is common, true love is rare, and I believe that few people are fortunate enough to experience it. The roads of regular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-buss/while-love-is-common-true-love-is-rare-and-i-believe-that-few-people/) [David Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-buss/) [Browse all 749 Dna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited characteristics of every living thing. The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard J. 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