DNA is often called the blueprint of life. This remarkable macromolecule stores all the hereditary information passed down from one generation to the next. Structurally, DNA resembles a twisted ladder—the double helix. The "rungs" of this ladder are pairs of four nitrogenous bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). A always pairs with T, and G always pairs with C—a relationship known as complementary base pairing.
The specific sequence of these base pairs forms genes, which are segments of DNA that contain the instructions for making proteins. Proteins, in turn, perform the vast majority of functions within a cell. The process of DNA dictating protein synthesis involves two key steps: transcription (making an RNA copy) and translation (using RNA to build the protein). Every cell in an organism contains a complete copy of its DNA, ensuring the continuity and complexity of life.
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