DNA

• DNA is the genetic material in the nucleus of a cell, composed of a chemical called Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• DNA is a polymer made up of two strands forming a twisted ladder structure called a double helix
• DNA carries the genetic code that determines the characteristics of an organism
• Each person's DNA is unique, except for identical twins
• People can be identified using DNA fingerprinting because DNA can be cut up and separated, forming a unique 'bar code'
• Chromosomes are long threads of DNA found in the nucleus of most cells, made up of many genes
• A gene is a small section of DNA in a chromosome that codes for a specific sequence of amino acids to make a protein
• Genes are the unit of heredity and can be copied and passed on to the next generation
• The relationship between the cell, its nucleus, chromosomes in the nucleus, and genes is illustrated in a diagram