24 Amazing Facts About DNA

     The study of DNA is called genetics. DNA is a chemical that stores our data in coded form in our cells. The data is vast and contains every trait of ours. It is a hereditary material mostly found in nucleus of cells. The basic elements of DNA are four moelcules called Adenosine, Thyamine, Cytosine and Guanine represented by A, T, C, and G respectively. These four letters in various repeated combinations can form uncountable combinations just like the 26 alphabets of English can make unlimited words through different combinations. Every combination represents a certain protein, chemical, trait etc. DNA is amazing. Over the years, scientists found enormous information about DNA through research and studies.
Here are some amazing facts about DNA that everyone must know about.

 (Image credits: Giphy)

1. A will always pair up with T and C will always pair up with G. There is no other pairing found in DNA. These are called base pairs.
2. The human genome contains 3 billion base pairs of DNA.
3. We’re all 99.9 percent alike. Of the 3 billion base pairs in the human genome, only 0.1% are unique to us. While that 0.1% is still what makes us unique, it means we’re all more similar than we are different.
4. DNA has five types. The most common type is the B-DNA, the rest are the A-DNA, C-DNA, D-DNA, and Z-DNA.
5. Bacterial DNA is single thread DNA while other organisms have double stranded DNA.
6. Human DNA is a double stranded structure like a ladder that is twisted continously. Each strand is made up of the above 4 elements and the opposite element is present on the next strand in front of every element making a pair as described in 1.
7. DNA is present in the form of chromosomes. Chromosomes are structures with four arms attached to a common point. The genes that carry coded information of DNA are present on the arms of chromosomes.
8. Genes make up only 3% of DNA.
9. Scientists were only able to complete the first draft map of the human genome in 2000 and completed the sequence in 2003.
10. The oldest human DNA found is 5,000 years old in fossils.
11. DNA is present in all cells and human body is estimated to be made of 37.2 Trillion cells. That is 37,200,000,000,000.
12. The length of uncoiled DNA of a single cell is 5 cm. The width of DNA double helix is about 2 nm which is 2 Billionth of a meter.
13. Total length of Human DNA will be 37,200,000,000,000*5=186,000,000,000,000 cm or 1.86 Trillion meters.
14. The total length of Human DNA will be equal to 6,000 times the distance from Earth to Moon, 600 times the distance from Earth to Sun or 17 times the distance from Earth to Pluto.
15. Except for identical twins, no one has the same DNA.
16. The human genome contains about 8% of junk DNA. It includes lingering strings of the viral genome that come from the same microorganisms which used to infect ancestors.
17. A single gram of DNA could hold up to 700 terabytes’ worth of data. That is 700,000 Gigabytes or GBs.
18. DNA can be edited and manipulated. This study is called Biotechnolony.
19. A scientist organisation inscribed the lyrics of “It’s a Small World After All” into a bacterial genome. Their objective was to develop a method to transmit messages for future forms of intelligent life.
20. DNA can be used to make the same copy of an organism or changes can be made to DNA to make a different organism with desired characteristics.
21. The first successful cloning of an animal was on a tadpole back in the 1950s. However, the one to become the most famous cloned animal was Dolly, a sheep (1996-2003).
22. Japanese, South Korean and Russian scientists are operating attempts to revive the woolly mammoth. We might live to see dinasours among us.
23. The International Space Station obtained DNA samples in 2008 from famous people. They stored the samples on the “Immortality Drive” memory device and sent them into space to be kept at the Station. These copies, including that of Lance Armstrong and Stephen Hawking, are instruments to the goal of resurrecting humanity in case of apocalyptic devastation of the planet.
24. Changes occur in DNA with the passage of time. These changes are in accordance with the atmosphere and surroundings of that organism. These changes are very slow and result in evolution which causes changes in appearance and other characteristics. Now you know why they call Apes as the ancestors of Humans.

     Do you know how unique you are according to your DNA? Do you know your true identity? Read Who Are you?- Do You Even Care? and know how DNA makes you who you are. We hope you liked the information. We are always open to questions which you can ask in the comments section.
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