What is the significance of the Central Dogma in molecular biology?

The significance of the Central Dogma in molecular biology lies in its description of the flow of genetic information within a biological system. This foundational concept outlines how genetic information encoded in DNA is transcribed into RNA and subsequently translated into proteins. Proteins are essential for the structure and function of cells, acting as enzymes, structural components, and signaling molecules. By elucidating this flow of information, the Central Dogma provides a crucial framework for understanding how genes dictate cellular processes and ultimately organismal traits.

The other options do not accurately reflect the focus of the Central Dogma. While the structure of DNA is undeniably important, it is not the main concern of this framework. Natural selection pertains to evolutionary biology and how certain traits become more common in a population over time, which falls outside the scope of the Central Dogma. Although cellular respiration is vital for energy production in cells, it does not relate directly to the process of gene expression described by the Central Dogma. Therefore, option C captures the essence of how genetic information is processed in living organisms, making it the correct response.