22. Genetic instructions that are passed from generation to generation are carried by which of the following organic molecules?
Answer: C
Genetic instructions are carried by nucleic acids.
Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are the organic molecules responsible for carrying genetic information from one generation to the next.
A) Proteins
Proteins play a crucial role in the expression of genetic information, but they do not carry genetic instructions themselves. Instead, they are synthesized based on the information encoded in nucleic acids.
B) Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates serve primarily as energy sources and structural components in cells. They do not have a role in carrying genetic information and are not involved in the inheritance of traits.
C) Nucleic acids
Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, are the molecules that store and transmit genetic information. They are fundamental to the processes of replication and transcription, making them the correct answer to the question.
D) Lipids
Lipids are essential for cellular structure and energy storage, but they do not participate in the transmission of genetic information. Thus, they are not relevant to the context of genetic instructions.
Conclusion
Nucleic acids are the only molecules among the options that directly carry and transmit genetic instructions from one generation to the next. In contrast, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids serve different biological functions that do not involve the carrying of genetic information, reinforcing the correctness of nucleic acids as the answer.