DNA Basics
What are the four letters in DNA?
A, G, T, C
Which letter pairs with A?
T
We inherit DNA from whom?
Our biological parents
True or false: Only humans have DNA.
False—other living things have DNA too
I carry biological instructions and have a double-helix shape. What am I?
DNA
What do we call an organism’s complete set of DNA?
It's cookbook or Genome.
Which letter pairs with C?
G
What do we call different versions of a gene?
Alleles
True or false: You inherit all your DNA from one biological parent.
False
I’m a version of a gene. What am I?
An allele
What is a gene?
A recipe (set of DNA) from the cookbook (Genome).
Complete the matching strand for A-C-T
T-G-A
Why can siblings look different?
They can inherit different combinations of DNA
True or false: Every gene controls exactly one trait.
False—genes and traits can have more complex relationships
I’m a change in a DNA sequence. What am I?
A mutation
What is a chromosome?
A chapter (portion) of the cookbook (genome), consisting of recipes (genes).
Complete the matching strand for G–A–T–C–C
C–T–A–G–G
True or false: A dominant allele is always more common.
False
True or false: Your muscle cells and brain cells generally contain the same DNA.
True—they use different parts of its instructions
I’m the complete set of an organism’s DNA. What am I?
A genome
What is the DNA's twisted-ladder shape called?
Double Helix
Find and fix the incorrect pair: A–T, C–G, G–T, T–A.
G–T is incorrect; G should pair with C
Why can’t one gene usually explain exactly how tall someone will grow?
Height involves many genes and environmental influences
True or false: Scientists can predict everything about you from your DNA alone.
False—environment and experiences also matter
I’m the study of how traits pass from parents to their kids. What am I?
Genetics