The Structure of DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in living organisms. It has a double helix structure, resembling a twisted ladder. The sides of this ladder are made of sugar and phosphate molecules, while the rungs consist of paired nucleotide bases: adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine. This sequence of bases encodes genetic information, dictating everything from physical traits to biological functions. DNA is crucial for reproduction, growth, and functioning, as it provides the instructions for building proteins and regulating cellular processes.