DNA carries genetic information from "summary" of A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition by Bill Bryson
It is a remarkable thing that all the information that makes you you is contained in a molecule so small that we need a powerful microscope just to see it. The molecule is DNA, and it is found in every cell in your body. Each cell contains a complete set of instructions for making you. These instructions are incredibly detailed, with each cell having a complete copy of your DNA. DNA is a long, spiraling molecule made up of four different chemicals called bases. These bases are arranged in a sequence that spells out the instructions for making you. The sequence of bases in your DNA is unique to you, like a genetic fingerprint that sets you apart from every other person on Earth. What makes DNA so remarkable is that it not only contains the instructions for making you, but it also carries the instructions for making every living thing on Earth. All living things, from bacteria to elephants, have DNA that is made up of the same four bases arranged in slightly different sequences. This is because all living things are related, sharing a common ancestor that lived billions of years ago. The information in DNA is passed down from one generation to the next, with each parent passing on half of their DNA to their offspring. This is why children inherit traits from their parents, such as eye color or height. But DNA is not just about physical traits - it also carries the instructions for how our bodies work, from digesting food to fighting off infections. In this way, DNA is like a book that contains the story of life on Earth. Each chapter is a gene that carries a specific set of instructions, and together they make up the incredible diversity of life that we see around us. So the next time you look in the mirror, remember that the information that makes you you is written in the tiny molecule of DNA inside each of your cells.
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