DNA is like the ultimate instruction book for life. It plays a big part in how traits are passed down through families. Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:
What is DNA?
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, but you can just call it DNA. It looks like a twisted ladder, known as a double helix. This ladder is made of two strands. Each strand is made up of tiny building blocks called nucleotides. There are four special bases in these nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The order of these bases tells our cells what to do.
The Genetic Code:
The way the nucleotides are arranged in DNA decides how living things grow and work. Parts of DNA called genes hold the instructions to make proteins. These proteins affect many things, like what color our eyes are or how our bodies use food.
Passing on Traits:
When living things have babies, they pass on their DNA to their young ones. This is how traits, like eye color, are inherited. For instance, if a parent has a gene for brown eyes, their child might also have brown eyes. The way traits are passed on follows some specific rules that a scientist named Mendel figured out.
Variation in Traits:
Even though kids get DNA from both parents, the mix of genes they inherit creates differences. This is called genetic variation, and it makes every person unique. Sometimes, changes in DNA can also lead to new traits.
In short, DNA is super important for heredity because it carries the information that helps decide the traits we get from our parents and grandparents. It’s amazing how such a tiny part of us can have such a huge effect on who we are!
DNA is like the ultimate instruction book for life. It plays a big part in how traits are passed down through families. Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:
What is DNA?
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, but you can just call it DNA. It looks like a twisted ladder, known as a double helix. This ladder is made of two strands. Each strand is made up of tiny building blocks called nucleotides. There are four special bases in these nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The order of these bases tells our cells what to do.
The Genetic Code:
The way the nucleotides are arranged in DNA decides how living things grow and work. Parts of DNA called genes hold the instructions to make proteins. These proteins affect many things, like what color our eyes are or how our bodies use food.
Passing on Traits:
When living things have babies, they pass on their DNA to their young ones. This is how traits, like eye color, are inherited. For instance, if a parent has a gene for brown eyes, their child might also have brown eyes. The way traits are passed on follows some specific rules that a scientist named Mendel figured out.
Variation in Traits:
Even though kids get DNA from both parents, the mix of genes they inherit creates differences. This is called genetic variation, and it makes every person unique. Sometimes, changes in DNA can also lead to new traits.
In short, DNA is super important for heredity because it carries the information that helps decide the traits we get from our parents and grandparents. It’s amazing how such a tiny part of us can have such a huge effect on who we are!