The Code of Life: DNA Explained

Every living thing, from you to a banana, is built from a code of just four letters.

This is your DNA, the ultimate instruction manual for your body. It's a double helix,

where A always pairs with T, and C with G. When your cells divide,

DNA unzips down the middle, and each half builds a new partner, creating two perfect

copies from one original. This code gets transcribed into a messenger, RNA,

which then tells your cells what proteins to build—making your eyes, your hair,

everything. A tiny typo in this code is a mutation. The craziest part? This exact same

genetic code is used by nearly every organism on Earth.