The nucleic acid that provides the instructions for producing amino acids is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).

Here's how it works:

* DNA contains genes: Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific proteins.

* Transcription: DNA's genetic code is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA).

* Translation: mRNA travels to ribosomes, where the genetic code is translated into a sequence of amino acids, forming a protein.

So, DNA holds the blueprint, and the instructions are copied to mRNA, which then directs the construction of proteins.