Deoxyribonucleic Acid....DNA to those of us who aren't scientists...has long been of interest for a number of reasons. DNA is also known as DNA fingerprinting. Lots can be learned from just the smallest amounts of human skin, blood, hair, saliva, and a few other bodily fluids. When we think of DNA, we most often think of its use in forensics and its ability to solve crimes. But DNA can also be used for non-criminal identification, such as identifying someone's relative and for reuniting families after a natural disaster or war. DNA is also used in medicine to identify good matches for organ or bone marrow donation. it is also a tool that is used to personalize treatment for cancer patients. "Moreover, DNA fingerprinting has been used to ensure that a tissue sample has been correctly labeled with the right patient's name." And one of the most unique uses for DNA is in agriculture." All living things have DNA, which means that DNA fingerprinting can be used to identify genetically modified plants or plants that are likely to have therapeutic value. It also can be used to prove pedigree in valuable animals such as racehorses. It's even possible to check the DNA of your mutt to find out exactly which of the "Heinz 57" varieties comprise his make-up.
So know that we know a little about the many uses for DNA, let's take a look at a few fun facts.
1. Your DNA could stretch from the earth to the sun and back...600 times! "If unwound and linked together, the strands of DNA in each of your cells would be 6 feet long. With 100 trillion cells in your body, that means if all your DNA were put end-to-end, it would stretch over 110 billion miles. That’s hundreds of round trips to the sun!"
2. Humans are 99% alike. Of the 3 billion base pairs in the human genome, only 0.1% are unique to all humans. While that 0.1% is still what makes you pretty unique, it means all humans are more similar than we are different.
3. Genes make up only about 3% of your DNA. "Genes are short segments of DNA, but not all DNA is genes. All told, genes are only about 1-3% of your DNA. The rest of your DNA controls the activity of your genes."
4. A DNA test can reveal that you're more Irish (Native American, Nigerian, English, etc.) than your sibling. Even though you both have the same set of parents, you can inherit more (or less) of any family nationality than the rest of your siblings. Who knew?
5. The human genome contains 3 billion base pairs of DNA. "DNA molecules are shaped like twisted ladders. And the rungs on that ladder are made of bases – adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) – locked together in pairs with hydrogen bonds. The really cool part is, they pair up in a very specific way: ‘A’ always pairs with ‘T,’ and ‘C’ always pairs with ‘G."
6. Your DNA could link you to places you never imagined. You may think you know your family's lineage, but there's a good chance that you don't know everything. Genetics has the power to tell you things you never dreamed knowing just from the DNA in your saliva. Armed with that knowledge, it can make it easier to detect and treat various illnesses as well as connect you with family you never knew existed.
Thanks for taking a little time this morning and stopping by to read my blog. I always appreciate it! And don't forget...Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means a visit from my wise teacher, The Dharma Frog. Whatever my lesson is on, I'm sure it'll be interesting as well as helpful. So please stop by again tomorrow. Until then, I wish you
PEACE.
So know that we know a little about the many uses for DNA, let's take a look at a few fun facts.
1. Your DNA could stretch from the earth to the sun and back...600 times! "If unwound and linked together, the strands of DNA in each of your cells would be 6 feet long. With 100 trillion cells in your body, that means if all your DNA were put end-to-end, it would stretch over 110 billion miles. That’s hundreds of round trips to the sun!"
2. Humans are 99% alike. Of the 3 billion base pairs in the human genome, only 0.1% are unique to all humans. While that 0.1% is still what makes you pretty unique, it means all humans are more similar than we are different.
3. Genes make up only about 3% of your DNA. "Genes are short segments of DNA, but not all DNA is genes. All told, genes are only about 1-3% of your DNA. The rest of your DNA controls the activity of your genes."
4. A DNA test can reveal that you're more Irish (Native American, Nigerian, English, etc.) than your sibling. Even though you both have the same set of parents, you can inherit more (or less) of any family nationality than the rest of your siblings. Who knew?
5. The human genome contains 3 billion base pairs of DNA. "DNA molecules are shaped like twisted ladders. And the rungs on that ladder are made of bases – adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) – locked together in pairs with hydrogen bonds. The really cool part is, they pair up in a very specific way: ‘A’ always pairs with ‘T,’ and ‘C’ always pairs with ‘G."
6. Your DNA could link you to places you never imagined. You may think you know your family's lineage, but there's a good chance that you don't know everything. Genetics has the power to tell you things you never dreamed knowing just from the DNA in your saliva. Armed with that knowledge, it can make it easier to detect and treat various illnesses as well as connect you with family you never knew existed.
Thanks for taking a little time this morning and stopping by to read my blog. I always appreciate it! And don't forget...Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means a visit from my wise teacher, The Dharma Frog. Whatever my lesson is on, I'm sure it'll be interesting as well as helpful. So please stop by again tomorrow. Until then, I wish you
PEACE.
https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-dna-fingerprinting-and-how-is-it-used-375554
https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/weird-but-true-facts-about-dna/
https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/weird-but-true-facts-about-dna/
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