DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, which is a molecule that carries genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms. It is a complex molecule made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). These bases pair up in a specific way (A with T, and C with G) to form the rungs of a twisted ladder-like structure called a double helix. DNA is found in the nucleus of cells and is responsible for passing on genetic information from one generation to the next.