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DNA (acid)

  • DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a double-stranded coil of genetic information and is around 2 meters long for every cell !
  • The content for any given cell in the body is the same and contains 2 copies of the genetic information (diploid). (DNA is in several bits and packed in chromosomes. In humans there are 2 x 23 chromosomes = 46)
    • In genital cells (ovule and spermatozoids, there is only one copy of genetic information (haploid).
  • It can either be dense or “unpacked”.
    • Euchromatin is “unpacked” DNA but a lot of RNA is produced here; thus these are the more active parts of cells where structural and functional proteins will ultimately be synthesized.
    • On the other hand heterochrochromatin is densely packed (“unused data”) DNA.
  • Virus (HIV or Viral HPV of warts) can insert itself in the DNA and remain silent and one day decide to synthesize its structural components by using the host’s “facilities”.
  • In more detail DNA is divided into “building blocks” called nucleotides, there are 4 of them, Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C). Adenine is linked to Thymine by 2 Hydrogen (covalent) bonds whereas Guanine is linked to cytosine by 3.