Genetic material is contained in the DNA. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. It is found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. DNA is responsible for transmitting hereditary information from one generation to the next and plays a crucial role in determining an organism's traits and characteristics. Vacuoles, cell walls, and lysosomes are cellular structures or compartments that serve different functions, but they do not contain genetic material.