dna

Everyday

1. DNA is the chemical inside the cells of every living thing that carries the instructions for how it grows, works and what it looks like. tree →
2. DNA is passed from parents to children, which is why children often look like their parents. tree →
3. (figurative) Something's «DNA» is the most basic part of what it is: «kindness is in our school's DNA». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons DNA comes in inheritance and evolution: DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder called a double helix, it is found in the nucleus of a cell, and genes are small sections of it. In everyday life and stories, DNA tests help doctors, help police solve crimes (DNA from a hair or a drop of blood) and help families find relatives. It stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

Examples

• DNA is like a recipe book inside every cell. tree →
• You got half your DNA from your mum and half from your dad. tree →
• DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder called a double helix. tree →
• The detectives found DNA on the cup. tree →
• Identical twins have almost the same DNA. tree →
• Scientists can read the DNA of plants and animals. tree →
• Rosalind Franklin's pictures helped scientists see the shape of DNA. tree →
• Being curious is part of our family's DNA. tree →

Note

Always written in capitals: DNA, said letter by letter, «dee-en-ay». Uncountable: say «DNA», not «a DNA» (but «a DNA test», «a DNA sample» are fine). Genes are parts of DNA; chromosomes are long packed strands of DNA. Myth: DNA does not decide everything — what you eat, learn and do also shapes you.