What does DNA primarily code for?

DNA primarily codes for proteins, which are essential molecules that perform a variety of roles in living organisms. The genetic information encoded within DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then undergoes translation to synthesize polypeptides, the building blocks of proteins. This process involves a sequence of nucleotides in the DNA that determines the amino acid sequence of the resultant protein.

Proteins are crucial for virtually all biological processes, functioning as enzymes, structural components, signaling molecules, and more. They essentially perform the work of the cell based on the instructions derived from DNA. While nucleic acids are indeed related to DNA, as they are the broader category of molecules that includes DNA and RNA, it is the proteins that serve as the direct products of the genetic code, making them the primary focus of what DNA codes for. The other options—carbohydrates and fats—are not directly coded by DNA but are instead synthesized through different metabolic pathways influenced by proteins.