What does it mean when scientists say that living organisms share a universal genetic code?

Dna. we have heard that we are a product of our dna. but where is it? how do we "get" our dna? it is passed to us, from our parents, but in what form? several vocabulary words associated with inheritance are used interchangeably and sometimes, incorrectly. let's see if you can clear this up for someone just learning about inheritance and cell structure.