What are the two main functions of DNA?

• A. Replication and transcription.
• B. Translation and replication.
• C. Expression and transcription.
• D. Replication and expression.

Answer: (D)

DNA has two main duties: to pass on genetic material and to provide the instructions that are used to build cellular products. Replication copies the DNA so each new cell inherits an exact copy of the genome during cell division. Expression uses the information in DNA to produce RNA and, ultimately, proteins—the steps of transcription and translation that turn genetic information into functional molecules. Translation isn’t a direct activity of DNA; it’s the stage where RNA is used to make proteins, with DNA serving as the template through transcription. By covering both inheritance (replication) and the generation of cellular components (expression), this pair best captures how DNA functions.