Reported February 2008

WHAT IS DNA? DNA is the blueprint that encodes all the data for building a human body, along with instructions on how it should operate. Every cell in a person's body contains a copy of this DNA. Most human DNA doesn't differ from person to person, but there are about three billion base pairs (pairs of amino acids that form the base of the gene) that do vary. This sounds like a lot, but that's only 1/100 of the entire genome.

DNA typing is based on an unusual feature found in the human genome. There are multiple copies of certain short sequences, three to 30 base pairs long, that are repeated one after another as many as 100 times. These groups of repeat sequences are widely scattered through the genome. Everyone has these repeat units, but the number varies from person to person. Only identical twins will have the same numbers and patterns of these sequences. These pieces of genetic data aren't instructions to make anything; scientists think they might exist to get mixed up in the regular genes and provide some variety for evolution.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Julie Winkel, Director of Media Relations
University of New Haven
(203) 932-7246
jwinkel@newhaven.edu

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