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Line 6: − ==Modern understanding== − [[Image:818.gif|right|thumb|Structure of DNA.]] − Small parts of DNA called [[gene]]s serve as the instructions for the body to carry out its functions and give rise to traits such as eye color, hair color, etc. <ref>"Eye-color genes, through the proteins they encode, direct the amount and placement of melanin in the iris." [http://www.hhmi.org/cgi-bin/askascientist/highlight.pl?kw=&file=answers%2Fgenetics%2Fans_044.html Ask A Scientist - Genes and eye color]</ref> Genes are packaged into [[chromosomes]]. Each individual human being has 23 pairs of chromosomes, where one set is inherited from his/her mother and the other set is inherited from his/her father. 22 of these chromosomes are referred to as autosomes, while the remaining chromosome determines gender (sex chromosome). − [[Prokaryotic DNA]] is circular (a closed loop), while [[Eukaryotic DNA]] is linear (with ends) with the exception of [[Mitochondrial DNA]], which is circular too. DNA in [[prokaryote]]s usually consists only of one closed loop chromosome.<ref>Campbell, Neil A, et. al. ''Biology''. 6th ed. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2002. 299, 530-31.</ref> − − DNA changes account for differences between individuals. However, they can also cause medical problems such as [[cancer]] − − DNA is [[transcription|transcribed]] into [[mRNA]], which is in turn [[translation|translated]] into [[proteins]] built from [[amino acids]]. Additionally, DNA maybe transcribed into functional RNAs (ribosomal and transfer RNA) that do not undergo translation. [[RNA]] can also be reverse-transcribed back into DNA, which is the called [[Complementary DNA]] or [[cDNA]].
→Modern understanding
==DNA fingerprinting==
==DNA fingerprinting==