Why is DNA important?

In the past few years I have heard many people talking about the importance of DNA, but what exactly is DNA and why is it so important for us?

Deoxyribonucleic acid, aslo known as DNA, is the blueprint of biological life and it is found in all the cells in the body. DNA is important because it stores biological information and encodes the various functions of cells, helping them perform their functions precisely and remain in their original histology and structure. It transfer the characteristics of ancestors to descendents.
The discovery of DNA has revolutionised science and medicine, but it is also being used in other fields (social, legal, criminal or inheritance related).
Some of the most common uses of DNA include paternity tests, prenatal genetic tests, ancestry tests, criminal investigations, tracking down old relatives and outer space research.