Abstract
Genetic materials are the information that is transmitted from one generation to the next, and they reside in chromosomes, which control phenotypic traits. Early biochemical experiments proved that nucleic acid in chromosomes is the chemical component that makes up genes. Nucleic acids are small biomolecules that, when combined in various arrangements, make up DNA (deoxyribonucleic acids) and are common to all life forms. Once the importance of DNA in genetic processes was revealed, intensive work began to understand its structure and function. Nucleic acids can exhibit four crucial characteristics, including replication, storage of information, expression of information, and variation by mutation. In this chapter, we describe the evidence proving that DNA is the genetic material responsible for sustaining life, and we also discuss the structure and physical properties of DNA and RNA.
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