Every person in this world looks different, has various outlooks on life, and enjoys other things than their neighbor, brother, sister, or co-worker. While the uniqueness of individuals in this world can be attributed to their social and economic surroundings, it is mainly due to the DNA information that makes up who they are.
Medical and Paternal Purposes
DNA has a variety of different purposes. However, it is most commonly used for medical and paternal intentions. In a medical sense, testing a person’s DNA can be used to identify their risk for developing a certain disease. When these genes are identified, a person can implement certain strategies in their life to prevent a disease or illness from developing.
On the other hand, DNA can be used to determine who the mother or father is of a child. This is particularly beneficial because DNA is a mixture of both the parent’s information. According to Gtldna, when genetic testing is done, determining the child’s parentage is generally about 99.9 percent successful.
Understanding DNA
In order to comprehend why every person in this world is so different, it is important to grasp the basic concepts of DNA and its effects on the human body. When a person is conceived, they receive a combination of DNA from both their mother and their father. From the time of conception to the day every person in this world dies, they have 23 chromosomes. On each chromosome pair, one half came from the mother and the other half came from the father. These 23 chromosome pairs are often referred to as nuclear DNA. This is because they can be found in every nucleus within the human body with the only exception being red blood cells.
While each one of these chromosomes includes essential information that is used in the makeup of the human body, the 23rd chromosome is particularly significant. Unlike the other chromosomes in the body where half comes from the mother and half from the father, a person inherits an X chromosome from the mother and either an X or Y chromosome from the father. It is this combination of X and Y that determines the gender of a baby. For example, if a father donated an X chromosome, making the genetic pattern XX, the baby would be female. But, if the father contributed a Y, making an XY combination, the baby would be male.
The DNA Formula
Each piece of DNA is made up of four bases which include:
- Cytosine
- Adenine
- Guanine
- Thymine
How these bases are ordered determines the DNA sequence. In a sequence, each base is paired up with another in complementary pairs. For example, the base guanine is always matched up with cytosine and adenine is always paired with thymine. When a genetic sequence is written down, a person lists the bases on one of the two sides of the DNA strip.
Whatever DNA is used for, it can provide an individual with extremely useful information about who they are, where they came from, and their future. Due to advances in technology over the past few decades, DNA can be tested simply, safely, and in the comfort of a person’s own home.
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