DNA -The Base for Genetics
Deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly referred to as DNA is a molecule that carries the instructions for development, growth, reproduction, and functioning for all known living organisms. (Rettner, 2013) Although most DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell, called nuclear DNA, others may be located in the mitochondria, called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA. (What is DNA? - Genetics Home Reference, n.d.)
DNA Makeup
DNA is made up of molecules called nucleotides and these molecules contain the phosphate group, sugar base, and nitrogen base that make everyone’s DNA different (Help Me Understand Genetics - Genetics Home Reference, n.d.). There are four different nitrogen bases, which is only one part of DNA. These four different nitrogen bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine(C). (DNA Is a Structure That Encodes Biological Information, n.d.)
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(DNA: Structure, n.d.) The bases pair with each other on either side of the “ladder”; adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine(C). The order of these bases determines the genetic code of the DNA, and even though 99% of these genes are arranged in the same order the small difference is a big part of what makes you, you! (What are DNA and Genes?,