DNA and the Genome
DNA is a double-helix molecule that carries the genetic instructions for building and running an organism, and the genome is all of it.
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DNA is a double-helix molecule that carries the genetic instructions for building and running an organism, and the genome is all of it.
- Genes are sections of DNA
- The four bases are A, T, C and G
- The Human Genome Project mapped our genes
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is DNA and the Genome?
Within Biology, which covers cells, the human body, genetics, evolution, plants and ecosystems: the science of living things, this topic explains DNA and the Genome. Biology topics show how living things work, from the cell up to whole ecosystems, with models you can explore step by step.
Check that you can explain DNA and the Genome in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding DNA and the Genome helps you explain how living things stay alive and respond to their surroundings, which is central to biology exams.
DNA and the Genome in detail
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that carries genetic information. It is a double helix of two strands, with each strand made of nucleotides containing a sugar, a phosphate and one of four bases: A, T, C and G. A pairs with T and C pairs with G (complementary base pairing).
The genome is the entire genetic material of an organism. The Human Genome Project mapped about 20,000 genes. The order of bases is a code that determines the order of amino acids in proteins. Studying the genome allows scientists to find genes linked to disease, trace ancestry and develop personalised medicine.
How the interactive helps you understand DNA and the Genome
Watch the DNA model in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the DNA model responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of DNA and the Genome.
Real-life uses and examples
- Structure a longer answer about DNA and the Genome by moving from definition to example to consequence.
- Explain how DNA and the Genome helps a living thing stay alive, using a plant or animal example.
- Connect DNA and the Genome to health, food and medicine in everyday life.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing the steps of a process without saying how one step causes the next.
- Using everyday words, such as “energy” or “bad”, without their scientific meaning.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about DNA and the Genome
What is DNA and the Genome?
DNA is a double-helix molecule that carries the genetic instructions for building and running an organism, and the genome is all of it.
What are the most important points about DNA and the Genome?
The main points are: Genes are sections of DNA; The four bases are A, T, C and G; The Human Genome Project mapped our genes.
Why is DNA and the Genome useful?
Understanding DNA and the Genome helps you explain how living things stay alive and respond to their surroundings, which is central to biology exams.
How can I practise DNA and the Genome?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to DNA and the Genome?
Related topics in Biology include Inheritance and Punnett Squares, Sex Determination, Natural Selection.