What is DNA?
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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is found in almost all living cells and contains the genetic blueprint. The information within DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). They are connected like the teeth of a zip and form a spiral called a double helix. The order, or sequence, of these bases determines the information required to build and maintain an organism, similar to the way in which letters of the alphabet appear in certain orders to form words and sentences. |
DNA is comprised of 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes in all), and each of these contains genetic sequences. We inherit half of our chromosomes from our mother and half from our father. That is why the code can be used to examine genetic relationships.