What’s is DNA ???????

Health · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020

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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries most of the genetic instructions used in the development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. DNA is a long polymer made up of repeating units called nucleotides.

The structure of DNA is often described as a double helix, resembling a twisted ladder. Each rung of the ladder consists of two nucleotide bases paired together. There are four types of nucleotide bases in DNA: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The specific sequence of these bases along the DNA strand forms the genetic code, which carries the instructions for building and maintaining an organism.

The information encoded in DNA is used by cells to build and maintain the structures of the body, as well as to regulate the processes that occur within cells. DNA is passed from parent to offspring during reproduction, ensuring the transfer of genetic information from one generation to the next.

The study of DNA has been crucial in understanding genetics, inheritance, and the molecular basis of life. Techniques like DNA sequencing have allowed scientists to read and decode the entire genetic information of an organism, leading to advances in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and forensic science.