Importance of Nucleic Acids

The DNA is the biological molecule that stores all the genetic information of the cell (in
some viruses RNA may function as the molecule that stores the genetic information).
Everything that the cells has to do, at what time in its life cycle, and how it has to do it is
determined by the information contained in the DNA molecule. In addition, DNA
functions as the molecule that carries on the genetic information from parent to
offspring.
RNA is made when the complex biochemical decodification machinery of the cell acts
on the DNA to extract the information needed for a particular function. RNA is a key
factor for protein synthesis. RNA is responsible for transferring the information
contained in the DNA to make a particular protein needed in a specific process for a
specific function. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the nucleic acid that brings information
(from the nucleus to the cytoplasm) about which protein to make, and transfer RNA
(tRNA) is responsible for transporting aminoacids to the ribosomes to make the required
proteins. There is also regulatory RNA, that is RNA molecules capable of regulating
gene expression by different mechanisms such as interference or blocking.

http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/63611.aspx