What do nucleic acids contain?

Nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, are essential biomolecules that contain the genetic code for all living organisms. This genetic material is structured in sequences of nucleotides, which serve to encode the instructions needed for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of organisms. The genetic code plays a pivotal role in protein synthesis, guiding the translation of information required to produce proteins, which ultimately influence an organism's phenotype and biological processes.

The other options represent different biological molecules or functions that do not accurately describe the primary content of nucleic acids. For instance, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins but are not composed within nucleic acids. Similarly, while carbohydrates serve as energy sources for cellular activities, they are not present in nucleic acids. Lastly, proteins are synthesized based on the information contained in nucleic acids, but nucleic acids do not contain proteins themselves. Thus, the essential component attributed to nucleic acids is their role in carrying the genetic blueprint for life.