Very interesting topic. It does seem that by focusing on humans and our need to matter that you dismiss your original premise. The vast majority of life forms are doing exactly what you mentioned. DNA seems to be energetically compelled to reproduce, and it is “designed” to do so differently as much as possible. The question, of course, is why. It certainly doesn’t seem like some random accident. Organic molecules have been identified throughout the solar system and beyond. Nucleic acids seem inevitable in this universe. But why?