Which molecule is the primary carrier of genetic information?

DNA is the primary carrier of genetic information in most living organisms. It serves as the blueprint for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known life forms. The structure of DNA consists of two long strands forming a double helix, with sequences of nucleotides that encode instructions necessary for building proteins, which carry out various functions within cells.

This nucleic acid holds the hereditary information that is passed from one generation to the next during reproduction, ensuring the continuity of genetic traits. During the process of transcription, segments of DNA are copied into messenger RNA (mRNA), which is then translated into proteins, highlighting DNA's role as the original source of genetic information.

While RNA also carries genetic information and is involved in protein synthesis, it is generally considered more of a temporary intermediary rather than the primary storage molecule for genetic instructions. Proteins and carbohydrates do not primarily carry genetic information; instead, proteins perform functions within cells, and carbohydrates primarily serve as energy sources or structural components. Thus, the role of DNA as the fundamental genetic blueprint is what makes it the correct answer.