DNA

  DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic material that carries the instructions for the development and function of all living organisms. It is a long, double-stranded molecule made up of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. Each nucleotide is composed of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The four types of nitrogenous bases found in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). These bases pair up to form the "rungs" of the DNA ladder, with A always pairing with T, and C always pairing with G. The sequence of these bases, also known as the DNA code, determines the traits and characteristics of an organism. This code is read and translated by cells in order to produce proteins, which are the building blocks of the body and perform a wide range of functions. DNA is found in the nucleus of cells and is organized into structures called chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. Eac...