DNA (Do Not Assume)

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that contains the genetic instructions for how living organisms grow, develop, and function. It is made up of two strands forming a double helix, composed of building blocks called nucleotides. These nucleotides include a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine. The sequence of these bases encodes the information needed to produce proteins, which perform most of the work in cells. DNA is essential for inheritance, allowing traits to be passed from parents to offspring, and serves as a blueprint for life.