Research paper

For science in school, we wrote research papers on different scientific videos we watched. For mine I chose DNA, and things of that sort. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to put my real name on here but oh well. I've included parenthetical citations, along with my works cited. Now, just so you know I'm not an expert or anything, but I researched plenty and wrote this paper at my grade level, so please don't judge.


 The Importance of DNA

        DNA is vital for life’s existence. Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA is a tiny double helix formed by nucleotides, and is found in the nucleus of a cell (“DNA”). DNA holds the information needed for cells to reproduce, and survive, along with containing genes (“Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

        DNA is about two nanometers across and 30-40 million nanometers long (Berry). With a closer look at these microscopic objects, it is visible that the two halves of a strand run in opposite directions (Berry). When DNA is replicated this, along with other agents, sometimes causes DNA mutations. Mutations are when the original structure of something is altered, and research shows that DNA mutations are caused by environmental agents such as sunshine, radiation, and certain chemicals (“What causes DNA Mutations?”)

        Written inside of all the DNA there are about 25,000 genes (Berry). Genes are the physical unit of heredity, and are what provides us with our features (“Genes”). Genes are passed down to offspring by their mother and father. This is the reason there are remote, or strong resemblances of the parents. Research has found that some genes are responsible for disorders, but many have no known uses (Kulger).

        Inside of humans there are more than 200 different types of cells (Hall 43). Sex cells contain only half of the average amount of chromosomes, which are proteins made of DNA (Hall 43). Red blood cells contain no nuclei or DNA; however all of the other  types of cells contain a complete set of DNA (Hall 43). “Thus all cells contain the instructions for making every protein that a cell could need,”, making us able to reproduce, and survive (Hall 43).

        Over the years scientists have done much research and visual inspection in order to obtain this information. These scientific discoveries will guide the next generations into an even more genetically advanced future, and will make many people’s dreams come closer to being accomplished. And through this research they have shown that without DNA, there wouldn’t be life at all.



Works Cited
Berry, Drew. “Animations of Unseeable Biology” YouTube, TEDtalksDirector, 12
January 2012. Web. 9 January 17, 2013.
“Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)” National Health Genome Research Institute. USA.gov.
13 June 2012. Web. 13 January 17, 2013
“DNA” FreeSaurus, WeesWwares. e-book
“Genes.” Dictionary.com. 2013. Web. 14 January 2013.
Hall, Erin. Understanding Genetics, DNA and RNA New York: The Rosen Publishing
Group Inc. 2011. Print.
Kulger, Mary. “What Are Genes, DNA, and Chromosomes?” Rare Diseases 12 April
2009. Web. 11 January 2013.
“What Causes DNA Mutations?” Genetic Science Learning Center. 6 August 2012. Web.
11 January 2013
“What is DNA?” Genetics Home Reference. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 7
January2013. Web. 11 January 2013