Nucleic acids are organic compounds that store and carry genetic information to direct protein synthesis. There are two main types: DNA contains the genetic blueprint and is usually found in the cell nucleus, while RNA assists in protein production and is mainly in the cytoplasm. Both are made up of nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate group, a sugar (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA), and a nitrogenous base (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and either thymine in DNA or uracil in RNA).