What in the DNA?

What is DNA?

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. It’s stored as code and is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.

  • Nearly the same in every cell of the body.
  • Mostly located in the cell nucleus.
  • Some are found in the mitochondria which are the structures within the cells that convert the energy from food.
  • It can make copies of itself.

Four Chemical Bases Make up the Code

  • Adenine (A)
  • Guanine (G)
  • Cytosine (C)
  • Thymine (T)

Human DNA contains about 3 billion bases with 99 percent of those being the same in all people. They appear in sequences similar to spelling a word. This determines the information necessary to build and maintain an organism.

Nucleotides

DNA bases combine to form base pairs and are attached to a sugar molecule and a phosphate molecule thus making them nucleotides.

  • Arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix.
  • Each strand serves as a pattern for replicating the sequence of bases.

DNA Evidence

What in the DNA? Word Search

If you’d like to download a copy of this word search, click here.

The Importance of DNA Crossword Puzzle

If you’d like to download a copy of the crossword puzzle, click here.