¿Qué es el ADN?: MedlinePlus Genetics (2024)

El ADN, o ácido desoxirribonucleico, es el material que contiene la información hereditaria en los humanos y casi todos los demás organismos. Casi todas las células del cuerpo de una persona tienen el mismo ADN. La mayor parte del ADN se encuentra en el núcleo celular (o ADN nuclear), pero también se puede encontrar una pequeña cantidad de ADN en las mitocondrias (ADN mitocondrial o ADNmt). Lasmitocondrias¿Qué es el ADN?: MedlinePlus Genetics (1) son estructuras dentro de las células que convierten la energía de los alimentos para que las células la puedan utilizar.

La información en el ADN se almacena como un código compuesto por cuatro bases químicas, adenina (A), guanina (G), citosina (C) y timina (T). El ADN humano consta de unos 3 mil millones de bases, y más del 99 por ciento de esas bases son iguales en todas las personas. El orden o secuencia de estas bases determina la información disponible para construir y mantener un organismo, similar a la forma en que las letras del alfabeto aparecen en un cierto orden para formar palabras y oraciones.

Las bases de ADN se emparejan entre sí, adenina (A) con timina (T) y citosina (C) con guanina (G); para formar unidades llamadas pares de bases. Cada base también está unida a una molécula de azúcar y una molécula de fosfato. Juntos (una base, un azúcar y un fosfato) se llaman nucleótidos. Los nucleótidos están dispuestos en dos hebras largas que forman una espiral llamada doble hélice. La estructura de la doble hélice es algo parecido a una escalera, los pares de bases forman los peldaños de la escalera y las moléculas de azúcar y fosfato son sus pasamanos.

Una propiedad importante del ADN es que puede replicarse o hacer copias de sí mismo. Cada hebra de ADN en la doble hélice puede servir como patrón para duplicar la secuencia de bases. Esto es fundamental cuando las células se dividen, porque cada nueva célula necesita tener una copia exacta del ADN presente en la célula antigua.

El ADN es una doble hélice formada por pares de bases unidos a un esqueleto de azúcar-fosfato.

¿Qué es el ADN?: MedlinePlus Genetics (2)

  • Par de bases (Base pairs)
  • Adenina (Adenine)
  • Timina (Thymine)
  • Guanina (Guanine)
  • Citosina (Cytosine)
  • Esqueleto de fosfato de azúcar (Sugar phosphate backbone)

Crédito: Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina de los EE. UU.

¿Qué es el ADN?: MedlinePlus Genetics (2024)

FAQs

What is DNA MedlinePlus genetics? ›

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person's body has the same DNA.

What is MedlinePlus genetics? ›

MedlinePlus Genetics provides information for the general public about the main features and inheritance of genetic conditions as well as the normal function of related genes and chromosomes and how genetic variations contribute to conditions.

What is genetics answers? ›

Genetics is the science of genes and how traits are passed on from one generation to the next. People who study genes are geneticists (juh-net-i-sists). Every living thing has DNA. DNA is an amazing chemical present in every cell. It contains all the information cells need to make a fish a fish, or you YOU.

What is A simple definition of DNA? ›

Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism. DNA is made of two linked strands that wind around each other to resemble a twisted ladder — a shape known as a double helix.

What does genetic DNA testing tell you? ›

Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder.

What are the 3 types of genetics? ›

Genes—through the proteins they encode —determine how efficiently foods and chemicals are metabolized, how effectively toxins are detoxified, and how vigorously infections are targeted. Genetic diseases can be categorized into three major groups: single-gene, chromosomal, and multifactorial.

What is MedlinePlus used for? ›

It is an open access consumer health database. Use it to learn about diseases, conditions, wellness topics, medical tests, drugs, and supplements from reliable sources in easy-to-read language. Look for links connecting content to relevant professional associations, clinical trials, and peer-reviewed medical articles.

How accurate is MedlinePlus? ›

The primary purpose of the website is educational, and the information is unbiased. MedlinePlus does not link to websites whose purpose is to sell or promote a product, service, or belief. The information provided is easy to understand, easy to navigate, and well organized. The website has original content.

Who pays for MedlinePlus? ›

The service is funded by the NLM and is free to users. MedlinePlus provides encyclopedic information on health and drug issues, and provides a directory of medical services.

Do you carry your baby daddy DNA for 7 years? ›

Male fetal progenitor cells persist in maternal blood for as long as 27 years postpartum. Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Can DNA tell if you are male or female? ›

The simplest thing DNA can tell you is whether someone is male or female. Apart from some very rare cases, that doesn't even involve looking at their DNA sequence - all you need to know is whether they have X and Y chromosomes (making them male) or a pair of Xs (which makes them female).

How do genetics work? ›

One copy is inherited from their mother (via the egg) and the other from their father (via the sperm). A sperm and an egg each contain one set of 23 chromosomes. When the sperm fertilises the egg, two copies of each chromosome are present (and therefore two copies of each gene), and so an embryo forms.

Can DNA tell your age? ›

Quantifying these changes has allowed scientists to develop models that calculate a person's biological age, a measure of the “well-being” of their cells. The Horvath clock is one of the most widely-used age clocks and uses DNA methylation data to calculate age (Horvath S, Genome Biology, 2013).

What is DNA in full words? ›

DNA is a chemical that is found in all living cells. It contains genetic information. DNA is an abbreviation for `deoxyribonucleic acid'.

What is DNA answer for kids? ›

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic (dee-OK-see-ri-bo-new-klee-ik) acid. It is the genetic information inside the cells of the body that helps make people who they are. Think of DNA as instructions for how to make the body, like the blueprints for a house.

What is DNA in plant genetics? ›

Summary. Like all living organisms, plants use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as their genetic material. The DNA in plant cells is found in the nucleus, the mitochondria and the chloroplasts. The latter two organelles are descendants of bacteria that were captured by a eukaryotic cell and have become endosymbionts.

What is the purpose of DNA? ›

The function of DNA is to store all of the genetic information that an organism needs to develop, function, and reproduce. Essentially, it is the biological instruction manual found in each of your cells. The instructions in DNA are written in a simple alphabet that has just four letters—A, T, C, and G.

What statement describes DNA? ›

The statement that describes DNA is: DNA is a molecule that contains genetic instructions used in the development and function of all living organisms.

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