A nucleic acid is a complex, high-molecular-weight biochemical macromolecule composed of nucleotide chains that convey genetic information. The most common nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids are found in all living cells and viruses.

Nucleic acids are primarily biology's means of storing and transmitting genetic information, though RNA is also capable of acting as an enzyme.

The term "nucleic acid", termed because of its prevalence in cellular nuclei, is the generic name of a family of biopolymers. The monomers themselves are called nucleotides. Each monomer consists of three components: a nitrogenous heterocyclic base, either a purine or a pyrimidine, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. Different nucleic acid types differ in the specific sugar found in their chain. For example, DNA contains 2 deoxyriboses. Likewise, the nitrogenous bases possible in the two nucleic acids are different: adenine, cytosine, and guanine are possible in both RNA and DNA, while thymine is possible only in DNA and uracil is possible only in RNA.

Nucleic acids may be single-stranded or double-stranded. A double-stranded nucleic acid consists of two single-stranded nucleic acids hydrogen-bonded together.

RNA is usually single-stranded, but any given strand is likely to fold back upon itself to form double-helical regions.

DNA is usually double-stranded, though some viruses have single-stranded DNA as their genome.

The sugars and phosphates in nucleic acids are connected to each other in an alternating chain, linked by shared oxygens, forming a phosphodiester functional group. In conventional nomenclature, the carbons to which the phosphate groups are attached are the 3' and the 5' carbons. The bases extend from a glycosidic linkage to the 1' carbon of the pentose ring.

Hydrophobic interaction of nucleic acids is poorly understood. For example, nucleic acids are insoluble in ethanol, TCA, cold and hot water and diluted hydrochloric acid; but they are soluble in diluted NaOH, alcohol and HCl.

NUCLEIC ACID & THE AGING PROCESS

We are living with the benefits brought about by a civilized culture. As time changes and scientific technology improves the quality of our lives has increased. It is true for everyone to enjoy this quality of life a little longer, and that's why so many people are researching to make human life span longer.

The advancement of molecular biology has aided in the development of gene diagnosis and cure studies. Active research on nucleic acid has led to the emergence of the study of genes in the life sciences.

Nucleic acid, which rules the process of a cell from birth to death according to its active ability, controls the cell's movements i.e. the movements of human.

People take it for granted the importance of nucleic acid as the basic element of life. Just like you don't realize the role of oxygen even though you breathe all the time, we really don't understand the important role it plays when it leads the organic movements taken with food or by other means. Fortunately however, some medicine companies, cosmetic companies and powdered milk companies are using nucleic acid as food additives. China is already using it as internal medicine and injections and France as internal medicine. America active researchers are studying on using it as cancer aid, which means nucleic acid will be practically used as medical supplies. In Japan , the nucleic acid, which is approved as food, is now being studied as an immunity booster after surgeries. And for cures, medical institutions will approve taking nucleic acids.

1) DNA(genes) plans the human life span.

In the centre of 60 trillion cells in your body, there are the same amount of DNA. The DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) that is frequently mentioned currently, is the basis on all living creatures to find each inherited character. And humans have an aggregate of 60 trillion cells, and in the center of each cell in the DNA. In the DNA, all information on you is programmed to let you stay human, and the life span can be determined according to them. You can lead a healthy life up to 120 years. There is a theory that the life span encoded in the DNA is 120. If this is true and you have the right environment, it is possible to live for 120 years.

2) When DNA is damaged, aging process promotes.

3) Decline of damaged DNA's recuperative power brings aging.

How much spare genes you have saved in the key. Everyone has the ability to recover the damaged DNA, but the slight difference in the ability connects to the differences of life span. DNA recuperative powers decline as you get older and the more spare genes you have, the higher the recuperative power.

1) Why is it important to intake Nucleic Acid by food?

Nucleic Acid are produced in two different methods. The first method is using Amino Acids and others materials in liver (some in kidney) producing its own Nucleic Acid, called “de novo synthesis”. The other method is recycling the ingested Nucleic Acid, called “Selvege Synthesis”. Our body maintains certain amount of Nucleic Acid, increasing the “de novo” synthesis when the amount of ingested Nucleic Acid is not enough, and decreasing when the ingested Nucleic abundant.

However, after age 20, our liver functions weaken, including “de novo synthesis”. Therefore, we run short of DNA and RNA if we don't provide enough Nucleic Acid via food. Cells too are aging, resulting decline of metastasis and its self-recovery ability. Cell's aging process just promotes diseases. Therefore, we need to provide Nucleic Acid consciously. Especially for growing children and adolescences, various nutrient ingredients are needed to balance the various nutrient ingredient.

2) The Way to Supplement Nucleic Acid

There is no absolute standard amount of Nucleic Acid that we need to take in, since it depends on individual's age and their health condition. However, it is necessary for us to take in Nucleic Acid by food in addition to the amount that our body produces.

What we normally have (plants and animals) includes Nucleic Acid, but the problem is the intake-efficiency. Eggs or milk have good nutrient but don't contain any Nucleic Acid, but fishes have Nucleic Acid; especially sardines which contain most Nucleic Acid. But it's also difficult to know for us how much we need to eat them in order to obtain that certain amount of Nucleic Acid. Beside, those foods, such as malts and beer yeast, are known to have plenty of Nucleic Acid, but we don't generally have them daily and there are also problem with taste and preservation. Therefore, we need to ingest Nucleic Acid as supplement nutrient food, and it's much more effective when it's taken with other nutrients especially with Vitamins B, C, and E.