Final answer:
The three critical functions of genetic material are enabling inheritance, ensuring accurate replication, and regulating gene expression, which includes directing protein construction as per the central dogma of molecular genetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three critical things that genetic material must do are:
- Inheritance: Genetic material must be capable of being passed from parent to offspring, containing the information crucial for the survival and reproduction of the organism.
- Replication: Genetic material must be able to make accurate copies of itself to ensure that the genetic information is preserved and transmitted without significant errors during cell division.
- Gene Expression: Genetic material must direct and regulate the construction of proteins, which are essential for a cell's structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs.
The above functions are closely tied with the central dogma of molecular genetics, which describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to proteins. This process is fundamental to the phenotype of an organism, which can be observed and measured.