DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) | DNA Testing Glossary
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule inside nearly every cell of your body that carries your complete genetic instructions. It has a double-helix shape — two strands wound around each other — and is made up of four chemical bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) arranged in pairs. The specific sequence of those base pairs determines everything from eye color to blood type. In DNA relationship testing, laboratories compare specific regions of DNA between two or more people to determine whether they share a biological relationship such as parent and child or siblings.
Related Terms
Genetic Marker, Allele, Locus, DNA Profile, Autosomal DNA
