Study of heredity and variation in living organisms.
Genes are the instructions for building and operating all living things. These tiny segments of DNA hold the code that determines everything from the color of your eyes to how tall you might grow.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a long, spiral-shaped molecule found in the nucleus of every cell. The structure of DNA is often described as a double helix, which looks like a twisted ladder. The rungs of this ladder are made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
Each gene is a specific sequence of DNA bases that tells cells how to make a particular protein. Proteins do much of the work in your body, from building muscles to fighting infections.
Genes are passed from parents to offspring, which is why you might have your mom’s curly hair or your dad’s dimples.
Humans have about 20,000-25,000 genes!
Scientists use special tools to read DNA sequences and identify genes, which allows them to understand how traits are inherited and how genetic diseases occur.
A gene for brown eyes is inherited from one or both parents, resulting in a child with brown eyes.
A mutation in a gene can cause cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder.
Genes are sections of DNA that act as instructions for making proteins and determining traits.