DNA FACTS: DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the biological development of a cellular form of life or a virus. All known cellular life and some viruses have DNAs. DNA is a long polymer of nucleotides (a polynucleotide) that encodes the sequence of amino acid residues in proteins, using the genetic code. DNA is responsible for the genetic propagation of most inherited traits. In humans, these traits range from hair color to disease susceptibility. The genetic information encoded by an organism’s DNA is called its genome. • DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. • DNA is part of our definition of a living organism. • DNA is found in all living things. • DNA is a double helix; the structure of DNA can be likened to a twisted ladder, made of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. • DNA is the “blueprint” of life, there’s a copy of our entire DNA sequence in every cell of our body. • There are 100 trillion (100,000,000,000,000) cells in your body. • There are three billion (3,000,000,000) base pairs in the DNA code within each cell. • DNA is a large molecule, but difficult to see because it’s super coiled in chromosomes. If it were to be uncoiled, the DNA in one somatic cell would be over six feet long. • If the total DNA in one person were laid in a straight line, it would stretch to the sun and back over 600 times (its 93 million miles from here to the sun) or reach the moon 6000 times and back! • It would take a person typing 60 words per minute, eight hours a day, around 50 years to type the human genome. • Our genes are remarkably similar to those of other life forms. For example, we share: • Over 99% of our DNA sequence is the same as other humans, ~ 98% of our genes with chimpanzees, ~ 90% with mice, ~ 85% with zebra fish, ~ 21% with worms, and ~ 7% with a simple bacterium such as E. coli. • DNA was first isolated in 1869 by Friedrich Miescher, James Watson and Francis Crick figured out the structure of DNA • DNA is strong as well as long. In the right conditions, it can stay together for thousands and thousands of years. Frozen mammoths are a good example. In November 2008, Nature published "Sequencing the nuclear genome of the extinct woolly mammoth". Authors Miller, W (et al) showed that about 80% of the woolly mammoth genome has been identified. • Viruses Contain DNA But May Not Be Alive: Viruses are essentially pieces of DNA (or RNA) encased in protein, copying to healthy cells and overwriting the DNA with their own. However, whether they can be considered alive is debatable. Without healthy cells to infect, viruses don’t do anything. Since a virus copies new DNA into cells, they are of great interest to those researching gene therapy. Harnessing this and controlling the viral genetic material could allow scientists to develop treatments for illnesses such as cancer. • Genes Can “Jump” Between Chromosomes: Scientist Barbara McClintock studied chromosomes in the 1940s and 50s, and suggested that genes are able to move, not only on the chromosome, but from one chromosome to another. This idea was rejected at the time, however, McClintock was correct. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1983, when she was 81 years old. • Most Europeans Are Related to One of Seven Women: In his book The Seven Daughters of Eve, published by Corgi in 2001, author Brian Sykes speaks of how the current Europeans on Earth are descended from seven prehistoric women. This is based on research into mitochondrial DNA, non-nuclear DNA that is passed from mother to offspring. Maternal lineages for other continents have also been researched. According to the Maternal Ancestry pages on the Oxford Ancestors site, there are currently thirty-six daughters of Eve known. In this context, the name “Eve” refers to “Mitochondrial Eve”, the common female ancestor of all people alive today.

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