DNA Facts for Kids
The special code inside every living cell that determines what you look like.
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DNA Facts for Kids
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About this topic
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all living organisms. Shaped like a twisted ladder (double helix), it contains the blueprint for building and maintaining every cell in your body.
Quick Facts
Key Points
DNA's double helix structure was discovered by Watson and Crick in 1953
The four bases pair specifically: A with T, C with G
Human DNA contains about 3 billion base pairs
Genes are specific sections of DNA that code for proteins
DNA can be used to solve crimes, diagnose diseases, and trace ancestry
Photos
🌀 The double helix
DNA looks like a twisted ladder. The sides are made of sugar and phosphate, while the rungs are pairs of chemical bases. The four bases - adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine - always pair the same way.
Go deeper📚 Genes and chromosomes
Genes are sections of DNA that contain instructions for making proteins. Humans have about 20,000–25,000 genes organized into 23 pairs of chromosomes.
Go deeper⚙️ DNA in action
Cells read DNA instructions to build proteins - the molecules that do most of the work in your body. From eye colour to how tall you grow, DNA influences almost everything about you.
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