Every cell in your body contains a gopy of your genome. A genome is a set of instructions that is your biological makeup. A human genome consists of about 3 billion base pairs. These bases (A) (T) (C) (G) form the code that carries information. Only about 1-2% kf this DNA actually codes for proteins. The rest use to be considered "junk DNA".
One of the biggest scientific efforts in history was the Human Genome Project which wanted to map the entire human genome. This project identified hundreds of thousands of genes, provided reference for genetic research, and accelerated advances in medicine and biotech.
The reason that we are all different is due to something called Genetic Variation. Humans share about 99.9% of DNA, but the remaining 0.1% accounts for all the variation between individuals. These differences influence physical traits, disease susceptibility, and drug responses. Small changes in DNA can have significant effects especially in important genes.
Genes alone do not determine outcomes, how they are regulated also matters a lot. Genes expression can vary depending on cell type, developmental stage, environmental conditions. This is a reason that liver cells and brain cells have the same DNA but have different function.
National Human Genome Research Institute
“About the Human Genome Project.” National Human Genome Research Institute, https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
What Is the Human Genome?” MedlinePlus Genetics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/basics/genome/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
National Human Genome Research Institute
“Fact Sheet: Human Genome Project.” Genome.gov, https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Human-Genome-Project. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
No comments:
Post a Comment