DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. It 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 consists of two long strands composed of four different nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The specific sequence of these nucleotides forms the genetic code that determines an organism's traits and characteristics. DNA is located in the cell's nucleus in eukaryotes (organisms with a true nucleus) and can also be found in other cellular compartments in some organisms. It is a fundamental molecule in genetics and is essential for the inheritance and transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next.