Question

What is the genetic material of a cell?

Answer 1

Hint: A cell is known to be the basic structural, functional as well as biological unit of all living organisms. They are often referred to as the “building blocks of life” since they are a part of all important life processes.

Complete answer:
A cell can be of two types- eukaryotic cell and prokaryotic cell. These two types different in certain features but both of them have a membrane that wraps around the cell. Inside the cell is the cytoplasm that fills most of the cell's volume and accommodates all the organelles of the cell including the nucleus which stores the genetic material of the cell. Cells can comprise two types of genetic materials- DNA and RNA. The genetic material of the cell is stored in the DNA which can then be transcribed into an RNA that finally translates into proteins which carry out specific functions inside the cell. The organization of the genetic material differs in case of RNA and DNA. For prokaryotes the genetic material is organized in a simple circular bacterial chromosome which is located in the nucleoid region of the cytoplasm. In eukaryotes the genetic material is divided into different linear molecules known as chromosomes which are located inside the nucleus.

Note:
The genetic material of the cell is mostly stored in the nucleus but some of the genetic material of the cell is also found in the mitochondria in eukaryotes. The mitochondrial genetic material is circular like prokaryotes and codes for separate proteins that help in the functioning of the mitochondria.