Final answer:
All cells transcribe their hereditary information into mRNA according to the central dogma of molecular biology, where information flows from DNA to RNA to protein. DNA is the primary source of heritable information, and this principle is universally accepted across cellular organisms to ensure the continuity of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
All cells transcribe portions of their hereditary information into the same intermediary form known as messenger RNA (mRNA). This process adheres to the central principle of molecular biology, commonly known as the central dogma, which explains the flow of genetic information within a biological system. According to the central dogma, genetic information flows in one direction: from DNA to RNA to protein. DNA replication is vital because, when a cell divides, it must pass a complete set of genetic information to the daughter cells. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA carries the genetic code that is transcribed into mRNA, which then is translated into proteins. This is the universally accepted mechanism among cellular organisms for passing genetic information from one generation to the next, ensuring continuity of life and the inheritance of characteristics. Research with DNA viruses has robustly demonstrated that it is DNA, and not protein, which serves as the primary source of heritable information.