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Let’s Talk Trash! MAR / APR 2020
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Everyone has Genes It ’ s in theGenes! Genes carry the information that determines your traits, which are features or characteristics that are passed on to you — or inherited — from your parents. For example, if both of your parents have green eyes, you might inherit the trait for green eyes from them. Or if your mom has freckles, you might have freckles too because you inherited the trait for freckles. Each cell in the human body contains about 25,000 to 35,000 genes.
Well, they are so small you can't see them. Genes are found on tiny spaghetti-like structures called chromosomes (say: KRO-moh-somes). And chromosomes are found inside cells. Your body is made of billions of cells. Cells are the very small units that make up all living things. A cell is so tiny that you can only see it using a strong microscope. Chromosomes come in matching sets of two (or pairs) and there are hundreds — sometimes thousands — of genes in just one chromosome. The chromosomes and genes are made of DNA, which is short for deoxyribonucleic (say: dee-ox-see-ri-bo-nyoo-CLAY-ik) acid. Each gene has a special job to do. The DNA in a gene spells out specific instrutions for making proteins in a cell. Proteins are the building blocks for everything in your body. Bones and teeth, hair and earlobes, muscles and blood, are all made up of proteins. Those proteins help our bodies grow, work properly, and stay healthy. Scientists today estimate that each gene in the body may make as many as 10 different proteins. That'smorethan300,000proteins!
aaron@usstn.com Project Manager AARON WOLFE
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