• Question: How does a DNA work?

    Asked by Yui to Anthea, Chloe, Kevin, Michel, Sean on 15 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Anthea Lacchia

      Anthea Lacchia answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      Hi Yui,
      Good question! It is actually just over 50 years since the structure of DNA was solved. DNA is a code, but not just any code: it is the source code of life, allowing all modern living things to function, grow and reproduce.
      DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material that lies inside the nucleus of all cells in humans and other living organisms. The information carried by DNA is held in the sequence of pieces of DNA called genes, which act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. This is the basic way in which DNA operates.
      But scientists are only beginning to realize how complex DNA really is! In the past 15 years alone, the DNA code of about 17,000 bacteria and about 1000 non-bacterial species has been figured out.
      If we could really understand and control DNA, then this would really help in disease treatment and lots of other areas of our lives. Hope this help!
      This is a link to a model of the structure of DNA, so you can print it and make it yourself if you like! 😉
      http://www.dnai.org/teacherguide/guide.html

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