DNA's primary structure is made up of just four different bases, and its secondary structure is regular and highly stable. How can a molecule with these characteristics hold the information required to build and maintain a cell?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the structure of DNA: DNA is composed of four different bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). These bases pair up to form the 'rungs' of the DNA 'ladder', with A always pairing with T, and G always pairing with C. This is the primary structure of DNA.
2. Step 2: Understand the secondary structure of DNA: The secondary structure of DNA is a double helix, which is like a twisted ladder. This structure is regular and highly stable due to the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs and the stacking interactions between adjacent bases.
3. Step 3: Understand the role of DNA: DNA holds the genetic information required to build and maintain a cell. This information is encoded in the sequence of the bases. Even though there are only four different bases, the order in which they are arranged can create an almost infinite number of combinations. This is similar to how the 26 letters of the alphabet can be arranged to form an almost infinite number of words and sentences.
4. Step 4: Understand the process of transcription and translation: The sequence of bases in a DNA molecule is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which is then translated into a sequence of amino acids to form a protein. Each set of three bases, known as a codon, codes for a specific amino acid. This is how the information in DNA is used to build proteins, which are the building blocks of cells.
5. Step 5: Understand the concept of genetic variation: Despite the regular and stable structure of DNA, mutations can occur which change the sequence of bases. These mutations can lead to genetic variation, which is the basis for evolution and the diversity of life on Earth.