DNA is the coolest stuff around.
The DNA in all living things looks like a twisted ladder and is made with the same four chemicals, called A, T, G, and C.
A and T stick together to make ladder steps and G and C stick together to make ladder steps.
If the DNA ladder in one of your cells was big enough for you to climb, it would reach the moon. It has a lot of steps!
The order of the chemicals A, T, G, and C is very important. If A, T, G, and C are in one order, a spider grows, if they are in another order, we get a fish or a watermelon or a carrot.
Unless you are an identicle twin, you are the only person in the world with your combination of DNA. A fun way to look at our differences is to look at our traits. Can you roll your tongue? Do you have straight hair? Do you have freckles or big eyes? It is because of your DNA.
Cool Facts
A gene is a piece of DNA that tells the cell to make a protein. Proteins do all kinds of things. Jellyfish make a protein that glows. The Scientists in Hawaii were the first to put the gene from the jellyfish in mice so that they would glow, too. Now scientists in Taiwan have made glowing pigs.
Why do they want to make animals glow?
Scientists are studying ways to put genes into cells. If they connect the glowing gene to the gene they want to study, they can see if the genes are in the cell. What they learn will help them treat people who have genetic diseases. Sorry, there are no plans to make glowing people.
Photos from Forbes and MSN.com
Challenge # 1
Can you put these in order from biggest to smallest?
Gene
Cell
Body
pink
Chromosome
Click here for the answer
Challenge # 2
DNA is the abreviation for
Deoxyribonucleic acid.
How many words can you make from Deoxyribonucleic acid?