Intro to DNA

DNA fun facts

• How long does it take one of your cells to completely copy its DNA?• 8 hours• In the human DNA code is made up of base pairs: A-T

and G-C on each side of the DNA strand. How many base pairs are in a DNA strand?• 3 billion• If you were to recite the order of the ATCGs in your

DNA starting tomorrow morning, at a rate of 100 nitrogen bases per minute, how long would it take you to recite one entire DNA strand if you didn’t stop to eat, drink, sleep or go to the bathroom, etc?• 57 years

DNA fun facts

• Autosomal cells have how many chromosomes?• 46• Sperm and egg have how many chromosomes?• 23• If you were to stretch out the DNA from your 46

chromosomes in just one cell and lay it end to end, how long would it be?• Over 2 yards• If the total DNA in one person were laid out in a

straight line, how long would it be?• 30 times the distance to the sun

DNA fun facts

• How many cell nuclei could you fit across the period on your paper?• 1000• How many threads of DNA could you fit across the

same period? • 1 million• If you wanted to store all the information from a

strand of DNA on a computer, how much storage space would it take up? • 3 GB

DNA fun facts

• How genetically similar are you to any other random human on the planet? (percentage wise)• 99.9%• How much genetic material do we as humans share

with the bacteria e. coli? (percentage wise)• 7%• How much genetic material do we as humans share

with earthworms? (percentage wise)• 21%

DNA fun facts• How much genetic material do we as humans share

with the a zebra fish? (percentage wise) • 85%• How much genetic material do we as humans share

with a mouse? (percentage wise)• 90%• How much genetic material do we as humans share

with a chimpanzee? (percentage wise)• 98%• What percent of our DNA codes for proteins? • 2%• The dominant trait is always the better trait to have.• False

Darwin’s Ear Points

Tongue Rolling

DOMINANT RECESSIVE

Attached Ear Lobes• Dominant

• Recessive

Hitchhiker’s Thumb

Left handed

Right handed: dominant Left handed: Recessive

FrecklesDominant Recessive

Bent little finger

Bent: dominant Recessive: straight

Curly Hair

Dominant Recessive

Longer 2nd toe

Dominant Recessive

Eye Color

Dominant Recessive

Widows Peak

Dominant Recessive

Butt Chin/Cleft Chin

Dominant Recessive

Hand Clasping

Dominant Recessive

Mid-digit hair

Dominant Recessive

DimplesDominant Recessive

Arm CrossingDominant Recessive

Lip shapeDominant

Recessive

Nose BumpDominant Recessive

Index finger longer than ring finger

Hair Color

Vulcanism