<P> DNA stores biological information . The DNA backbone is resistant to cleavage, and both strands of the double - stranded structure store the same biological information . This information is replicated as and when the two strands separate . A large part of DNA (more than 98% for humans) is non-coding, meaning that these sections do not serve as patterns for protein sequences . </P> <P> The two strands of DNA run in opposite directions to each other and are thus antiparallel . Attached to each sugar is one of four types of nucleobases (informally, bases). It is the sequence of these four nucleobases along the backbone that encodes biological information . RNA strands are created using DNA strands as a template in a process called transcription . Under the genetic code, these RNA strands are translated to specify the sequence of amino acids within proteins in a process called translation . </P> <P> Within eukaryotic cells, DNA is organized into long structures called chromosomes . During cell division these chromosomes are duplicated in the process of DNA replication, providing each cell its own complete set of chromosomes . Eukaryotic organisms (animals, plants, fungi and protists) store most of their DNA inside the cell nucleus and some of their DNA in organelles, such as mitochondria or chloroplasts . In contrast prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) store their DNA only in the cytoplasm . Within the eukaryotic chromosomes, chromatin proteins such as histones compact and organize DNA . These compact structures guide the interactions between DNA and other proteins, helping control which parts of the DNA are transcribed . </P> <P> DNA was first isolated by Friedrich Miescher in 1869 . Its molecular structure was first identified by James Watson and Francis Crick at the Cavendish Laboratory within the University of Cambridge in 1953, whose model - building efforts were guided by X-ray diffraction data acquired by Raymond Gosling, who was a post-graduate student of Rosalind Franklin . DNA is used by researchers as a molecular tool to explore physical laws and theories, such as the ergodic theorem and the theory of elasticity . The unique material properties of DNA have made it an attractive molecule for material scientists and engineers interested in micro - and nano - fabrication . Among notable advances in this field are DNA origami and DNA - based hybrid materials . </P>

The structure found in the cell that contains strands of dna is called a(n)