what is genetic material?

Genetic material is the material found in cells that contains the genetic information of living organisms. Genetic material stores the fundamental information necessary to life - information that controls reproduction, development, behavior, and so forth. It usually consists of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), although in certain viruses it may also be composed of RNA (ribonucleic acid).

The genetic material of a cell can be a gene, a part of a gene, a group of genes, a DNA molecule, a fragment of DNA, a group of DNA molecules, or the entire genome of an organism.