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DNA is a molecule that contains the “blueprint” of life. It stores and transmits all of the instructions necessary for an organism to grow, live, and reproduce.
Despite the astounding diversity of life, DNA is the common thread found in all living things, including bacteria, plants, birds, fungi, and you.
DNA and Chemistry
Your body (and the bodies of other animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria) is made of compounds known as proteins. Proteins are used to create your body’s cells and help them function. Making a protein is a complex process that requires many different kinds of molecules called amino acids.
DNA contains the recipe and tools for making and combining amino acids into proteins to build cells and create a fully functioning body. Specifically, the term DNA is shorthand for deoxyribonucleic acid.
DNA’s Role
For a tiny molecule, DNA has a big job:
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It carries the instructions for making proteins.
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It regulates how cells assemble and interact to form a body.
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It controls the replication of cells during reproduction, the making of a new individual.
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And most importantly, it is the molecule of inheritance—the fundamental information that passes from parents to offspring.
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Not surprisingly, DNA is found in cells throughout the bodies of all living organisms.
Continue to Where Is DNA Found? >>
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