THE CODE OF LIFE

Peter Gallivan plunges into the twisted world of DNA - the hidden code that holds the secret to life on Earth.

If you look at life on this planet, there is staggering variety. From pine trees to porcupines, and seaweed to stegosaurs, living things have evolved and adapted into almost every form imaginable. However, despite all these differences, there is one strand that connects all life: DNA. Read on to discover what this fascinating molecule is, and how scientists studying it are uncovering life’s biggest secrets.

Look inside

If you look at any organism (living thing) up close under a microscope, whether it is a plant, animal, fungus or even bacteria, you will start to see some similarities between them. First of all you will see cells. These structures are tiny bags of mostly water, as well as some very important chemicals needed for life, including DNA.

DNA is basically a detailed list of instructions. Within its snaking structure, it contains all the information needed to create each organism – what it will look like and how it will work. Despite its vital role, it is surprisingly simple. DNA is a long twisting ladder, made up of two strands of sugars that are linked together by rungs made of four different molecules, called bases.

A simple code