Information stored in nucleic acids is passed from one generation to the next.
This genetic information serves as the blueprint for making proteins, which are
necessary for the operation of the cell.

Supporting ideas:
1. The discovery of the structure and function of DNA involved a variety of
experimental techniques and has provided a framework for further study of cell
reproduction and development.
2. X-ray crystallography has shown that DNA is a double stranded molecule, which
consists of a series of paired nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of
deoxyribose, a phosphate, and one of four nitrogen bases?adenine always pairs
with thymine and cytosine always pairs with guanine.
3. The replication of DNA is facilitated by enzymes.
4. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a single stranded molecule, which consists of a series
of linked nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a ribose, a phosphate, and
one of four nitrogen bases—adenine, cytosine, guanine, or uracil.
5. Information stored within the DNA molecule can be copied into RNA molecules
(transcription).
6. The RNA molecule directs the assembly of amino acids at a ribosome
(translation) to form proteins. Amino acids are linked together through a
dehydration synthesis reaction forming a peptide bond.
7. Changes in the information stored within the DNA molecule (mutation) may
produce changes in proteins that can alter cell function or activity.