Which macromolecule carries instructions that tell each cell how to perform their particular jobs?

• A. Nucleic acids
• B. Carbohydrates
• C. Proteins
• D. Lipids

Answer: (A)

Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information that tells cells how to perform their tasks. DNA holds the instructions, written in sequences of nucleotides, and the cell uses those instructions to make RNA through transcription. The RNA then guides protein production at the ribosome via translation, turning the genetic code into functional proteins that carry out most cellular jobs. In short, the information needed for cellular activities is encoded in nucleic acids, and the rest of the macromolecules—carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids—carry out roles or provide structure and energy, but they don’t serve as the instruction manual.