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What is DNA and why do we need it?

The human body is made up of millions and
millions of CELLS.

Inside your cells is DNA.
DNA stands for DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID
DNA is a really big chemical that looks like a spiral staircase or ladder. This shape is called a DOUBLE HELIX..
DNA Fun Facts
DNA doesn't just float around the cell.

  • If you stretched out the DNA from just ONE cell, it would be as tall as an ADULT but it would be so thin you COULDN'T SEE IT!
  • All the DNA in YOUR BODY would stretch 10 BILLION MILES! That would go to the MOON AND BACK 3000 TIMES!
  • 10 TRILLION (THAT'S A MILLION MILLION!)
    DNA ladders can fit into the space the size of a MARBLE!
The structure of DNA was only discovered 50 years ago – in Britain! James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin worked out the shape of DNA in 1953.



This was one of the biggest discoveries ever in science!
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