Final answer:
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, holds the instructions for cell functions and evolutionary history, encoding for RNA and proteins to determine an organism's phenotype.
Step-by-step explanation:
The molecule that contains instructions for the functions of every cell and carries a record of evolutionary history is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA is an essential macromolecule for life, providing the genetic blueprint for all organisms. It is a double-stranded polymer composed of nucleotides that not only ensures the replication of cells but also carries the hereditary information and directs the synthesis of proteins.
Proteins are crucial for myriad cellular processes, and DNA codes for the amino acid sequence that forms these proteins. This process begins with DNA being transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then guides the synthesis of proteins in a process known as translation—this flow of information from DNA to RNA to proteins is termed the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology. The collective set of genes within an organism's DNA is referred to as its genotype, which manifests as the phenotype, observable characteristics produced under specific conditions by the proteins expressed from the DNA.
DNA contains the instructions necessary for cell reproduction, function, and the creation of RNA and proteins, which express an organism's physical traits. Nucleic acids like DNA are crucial for continuity of life, encoding the data that guides cellular function and embodies an organism's evolutionary history.