Final answer:
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that stores genetic information in a cell. It carries the instructions for a cell's functions and replication and is found in the nucleus in eukaryotic cells and the nuclear zone of prokaryotic cells. Gene expression and cellular differentiation are dictated by DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The information in a cell is stored in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA. DNA is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. DNA stores the information needed to build and control the cell through the sequence of its four bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.
DNA replication is critical for the transmission of genetic information from one generation of cells to the next, ensuring that each new cell receives a complete set of DNA. This occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, and a specific nuclear zone in prokaryotic cells. The DNA molecule is composed of a long chain of nucleotides, each of which consists of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing base.
Furthermore, our understanding of how DNA stores and utilizes genetic information comes from the discovery of its structure by Watson and Crick in 1953. This discovery has been essential for modern biology, helping us understand the process of gene expression and how different cell types are formed, despite having the same genetic code.