1. DNA contains the genetic instructions that determine traits and control cell functions by serving as a template for protein structure.
2. DNA is made up of nucleotides that form a double helix structure, with nitrogenous bases on the inside pairing according to specific rules.
3. DNA must be replicated before cell division so that each new cell contains the exact genetic information of the original cell. The double helix unwinds and each strand acts as a template for a new complementary strand.