Final answer:
The carbon compound responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information is Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is essential in replicating cells, producing proteins, and passing genetic material to offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The carbon compound that stores and transmits genetic information is called Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA is a molecule that contains the genetic blueprint of all living organisms and is responsible for storing information about how to replicate a cell, its chemical and structural components, and for the synthesis of proteins.
This molecule is made up of nucleotides, consisting of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine). The sequence of these bases encodes the instructions needed to form the structure of all proteins and RNAs, crucial for an organism's development and functioning.
DNA is renowned for its double-helical structure where two strands run in antiparallel directions connected by hydrogen bonds, forming base pairs (adenine pairs with thymine; cytosine pairs with guanine). This structure allows for copying of the genetic material during cell division, ensuring genetic information is conserved through evolution and passed from parent to offspring.