What does DNA do?

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) serves as the primary unit of heredity in all types of organisms. It is the genetic material that carries all the hereditary information that make each species unique and is passed on from adult organisms to their offspring during reproduction. While this transmission helps ensure a certain degree of continuity among successive generations, it does allow for small deviations that contribute to the diversity of life. 

DNA contains critical instructions that an organism needs to develop, reproduce and survive. In addition to the replication process, DNA is also involved in transcription and cellular metabolism. In the laboratory it contributes to gene therapy and DNA fingerprinting.