Lesson 2: What is DNA?

Long... words...

  • DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that contains genetic code for organisms. This includes:
    • animals
    • plants
    • protists
    • archaea
    • bacteria

 

DNA is in every cell in an organism, and it tells proteins what to make.

  • Mostly, these proteins are enzymes.
  • DNA is inherited by children from their parents, which is why children share traits with their parents (like skin, hair and eye, colour)
  • DNA in a person is a combination of the DNA from each of their parents.