Definition

DNA is an abbreviation for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid which is the main "blueprint" of a living organism. The DNA molecule is composed of four Nuclear bases called Nucleotides, these are Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine and Thymine, and also a sugar skeleton, DeoxyRibose, which forms the outlying structure of the double helix holding it all together.

Function

The molecule itself is, relatively speaking, very large and acts as the main repository for "blueprints" = Genes for the various proteins within and outside the cell. The genes are copied into work copies and moved into "production" using mRNA (messenger RNA) in a process that is labeled Transcription.