Here's why:
* DNA contains genetic code: DNA is a long, complex molecule that carries the genetic instructions for building and maintaining an organism. These instructions are encoded in the sequence of its four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
* Genes specify protein sequences: Specific segments of DNA, called genes, contain the code for building a particular protein. The sequence of nucleotides in a gene determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein.
* Transcription and translation: DNA's information is first transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then directs protein synthesis in a process called translation. This means DNA's code is first copied into mRNA, and then mRNA is used as a blueprint to assemble the protein.
Therefore, DNA is the fundamental molecule that stores the information for creating all the proteins an organism needs to function.
