Dna - GCSE Biology Definition

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a special molecule found in almost every cell of living things and acts like a set of instructions for the body. It carries the genetic information that tells your cells how to grow, develop, and work. This information is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases, often represented by the letters A, T, C, and G, which pair up in specific ways. DNA is structured as a double helix, which looks like a twisted ladder. The sequence of these bases determines the genetic instructions, much like how letters in the alphabet make up words and sentences. DNA is unique to every individual, except in identical twins, and it is passed from parents to their offspring, which is why children inherit traits from their parents.