Human DNA: The Most Interesting Little-Known Facts
Humans are among the most complex and fascinating creatures on the planet. And something that makes us, us, is our DNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid is even more intriguing as it shares and stores all the body’s information for each individual. But DNA’s wonders don’t stop there.
There Are Only Four Building Blocks
As fascinating and complex as human DNA is, only four primary building blocks create the ladder-like structure. These chemical blocks are nucleotides and consist of adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.
The specific order of the DNA nucleotides is known as genome sequencing, and it makes up the DNA structure. For example, a sequence may look like GTAGGAAACCATGC, each letter representing a chemical in the strand.
Humans Share 99.9 Percent of DNA
All humans are unique and different in their own way. If you walked through your local supermarket, you would not find two people with the same personality, physical traits, or habits. All differences aside, humans still share 99.9 percent of all DNA. It’s in the remaining .1 percent that things such as skin color, head shape, eye color, and other outward characteristics begin to vary.
All humans come from the same recipe, but the genetic variations (.1 percent) make us unique.
Human DNA Mutates Every Day
An interesting but little-known fact about human DNA is the mutations it undergoes every day. Our DNA experiences variable external factors that trigger a mutation within its code, and some mutations are helpful, while others may be harmful.
A few examples of external triggers include medications, infections, or overexposure to UV radiation. Our cells respond rapidly with a mutation, and it’s in this change that external exposures harm us.
Your Genes Only Play 3 Percent of a Role
The purpose of DNA is to send, receive, and translate information inside the body. But up to three percent of your DNA is responsible for your genes.
These shortened segments of DNA interact with who you are and who you become physically. The rest of your DNA acts as a control or information center. CRISPR is one of the most innovative technologies transforming the biotech industry, and it acts as a pair of scissors, taking genetic segments and editing, altering, or deleting specific codes. This can change a person’s three percent to be more or less.
Humans and Chimps Are 96 Percent Alike
Of the 99.9 percent shared human DNA, 96 percent matches chimpanzees’ DNA. And while this is a known fact about human DNA, a more interesting and little-known piece of information is the shared DNA with other organisms.
The human DNA code matches a cat’s DNA by 90 percent and a banana’s by 60 percent. Humans also share DNA matches with mice (85 percent), cows (80 percent), and chickens (60 percent). These matches further prove why that .1 percent of human genetic variation is an instrumental component.