For Those in a Hurry
- Your DNA is about 5 feet long in each cell
- You have trillions of cells in your body
- Your total DNA length is enough to go from the sun to Pluto and back 17 times
- That’s a lot of DNA!
What is DNA and Why Does it Matter?
DNA is the molecule that contains your genetic information. It tells your body how to grow, develop, and function. It also makes you unique and different from everyone else.
DNA is made of smaller units called nucleotides. There are four types of nucleotides: A, C, G, and T. They pair up in a specific way: A with T and C with G. These pairs form a twisted ladder shape called a double helix.
How Long is Your DNA in One Cell?
Your DNA is very long, but also very thin. It’s so thin that you can’t see it with your eyes. You need a powerful microscope to see it.
Your DNA is about 5 feet long in each cell. That’s longer than you are! But how does it fit inside a tiny cell? It does so by coiling and folding around proteins called histones. This makes a compact package of DNA called chromatin.
How Long is Your DNA in Your Whole Body?
You have trillions of cells in your body. Each cell has its own copy of DNA, except for red blood cells, which don’t have any DNA at all.
If you add up all the DNA in your body, you get a huge number: about 2 x 10^14 meters. That’s about 124 billion miles!
To put that in perspective, that’s enough to go from the sun to Pluto and back 17 times. Pluto is the farthest planet from the sun (sorry, Pluto). It’s so far that it takes light more than 5 hours to reach it.
That means your DNA could make a round trip to Pluto faster than light!
Why Do You Have So Much DNA?
You might wonder why you need so much DNA in your body. The answer is that DNA contains a lot of information. It has instructions for making all the proteins that your body needs.
Proteins are like tiny machines that do different jobs in your body. They help you digest food, fight infections, move muscles, and more.
Some of these proteins are needed all the time, while others are needed only in certain situations. For example, you need proteins to repair your skin when you get a cut.
Your DNA has sections called genes that code for specific proteins. Some genes are active all the time, while others are turned on or off by signals from your environment or other cells.
Your DNA also has sections that don’t code for proteins, but have other functions. For example, some sections help regulate gene activity, while others protect your DNA from damage.
How Can You Learn More About Your DNA?
Your DNA is amazing and fascinating. It holds the secrets of your ancestry, health, and traits.
You can learn more about your DNA by taking a DNA test. A DNA test analyzes a sample of your saliva or cheek cells and gives you information about your genetic makeup.
You can find out where your ancestors came from, what diseases you might be at risk for, what traits you inherited from your parents, and more.
A DNA test can also help you connect with relatives who share your DNA. You might discover cousins you never knew you had!
If you want to learn more about your DNA and yourself, check out our best DNA test page to find the best one for you.
