Final answer:
Genetic information is stored in the sequence of nucleotides of a DNA molecule, comprising a genetic code determined by the specific arrangement of the bases A, C, G, and T. This code is crucial for protein synthesis, where DNA's encoded information is transcribed into mRNA and then translated into proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic information is stored in the sequence of nucleotides of a DNA molecule. DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, acts as the genetic material for all living organisms and carries the complete genetic instructions required to form the structure of all proteins and RNAs of each organism. Each nucleotide in DNA is made of a nitrogenous base, a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), and a phosphate group. The sequence of these nucleotides in the DNA chain makes up the genetic blueprint, which is found in the nucleus of each cell and is passed from parents to offspring.
The genetic code consists of the sequence of nitrogen bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) in DNA. The specific arrangement of these bases determines the instructions for the synthesis of proteins. During protein synthesis, the information encoded in the DNA is first transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and then translated to specify the sequence of amino acids in proteins, reflecting the information originally stored in the DNA molecule.