We’ve all heard of DNA, genes, and chromosomes. But how exactly does DNA form the building plan for a human being? And what kind of DNA test can I have done? Interesting questions where we can learn a lot about our hereditary material (DNA). We can do this by analyzing your DNA. With this we can tell you a lot about the properties that your body possesses.
The hereditary material
The human body is made up of cells. There are more than 30 trillion (a million times a million) in total. These cells make up all the organs, tissues, and skeleton of your body, such as your heart, skin, lungs, muscles, and so on. In the core of those cells, the nucleus, lies the information that makes each person unique.
What does DNA mean?
This is the genetic material, better known as DNA (Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid or in Dutch; Deoxyribonucleic acid). The DNA is compactly folded into chromosomes which, when unfolded, reveal the familiar DNA double helix. A piece of DNA that forms the genetic code for a trait is called a gene.
Building plan of your body
The genetic material can be seen as the building plan and contains a complete description of the body. Each cell (except red blood cells) contains a full set of the vanhereditary material. So when we collect cells for genetic research, it doesn’t matter where they come from. The cells in your little toe contain the same genetic material as those in your brain.