DNA: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 8, 2026

News •

New genomic tools improve detection of rare DNA changes • Nov. 5, 2026, 10:03 PM ET (News-Medical)

Paired DNA strands recognize shape, not just sequence, in new small-molecule sensing method • Nov. 5, 2026, 6:40 PM ET (Phys.org)

Synthetic DNA molecules enable precise targeting of cancer-linked genes • Nov. 3, 2026, 9:24 PM ET (News-Medical)

Scientists discover a bacterial defense so strange they thought it was broken • Oct. 31, 2026, 6:40 AM ET (Science Daily)

Simulations reveal design rules for high-performance DNA particle motors • Oct. 26, 2026, 4:20 PM ET (Phys.org)

Facts

Also Known As	deoxyribonucleic acid

Photos and Videos

The initial proposal of DNA structure

Diagram of a DNA double helix segment showing two strands with labeled components: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), guanine (G), phosphate groups (P), and deoxyribose sugars (S). The bases pair across the strands, and the 3' and 5' ends are indicated at each strand's termini.

Blue digital illustration of a DNA double helix structure with additional blurred DNA strands in the background.

Diagram of a DNA polynucleotide chain showing linked deoxyribose sugars, phosphate groups, and nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine), with an inset comparing ribose and uracil in RNA.

model of a DNA molecule

The human genome

DNA extraction and recombinant DNA technology

Computer monitor displaying DNA sequencing data with multicolored horizontal bands and vertical columns, labeled with numerical markers along the left side.

Diagram of a DNA double helix showing its twisted ladder structure, with a close-up of the sugar-phosphate backbone, paired nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine), and labeled nucleotides and hydrogen bonds.

Illustration of two blue double helix DNA strands with colored base pairs, representing deoxyribonucleic acid structure.

How DNA influences inherited traits

Astronaut holding a rainbow lollipop against a starfield, with arrows toward text reading: Sugar in Space?

Genetically modified humans

Finding prehistoric family ties with modern DNA

Uncover the genome similarities and differencess between chimpanzees and human beings

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Topics

double helix chromatin mtDNA single-copy DNA satellite DNA minisatellite DNA nucleotide sequence 6 Questions About DNA Answered What Is the Difference Between DNA and RNA?Holliday junction cell Biosphere ecosystem community Organ Organelle multicellular organism evolution Metabolism death

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Key People

The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winners

Jennifer Doudna

American biochemist

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Rudolf Jaenisch

German biologist

Venter, J. Craig

J. Craig Venter

American geneticist, biochemist, and businessman

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Stephen J. Elledge

American geneticist

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Evelyn M. Witkin

American geneticist

James Watson, c. 1990

James Watson

American geneticist and biophysicist

Kary B. Mullis

Kary Mullis

American biochemist

English-born American biochemist and geneticist Jack W. Szostak.

Jack W. Szostak

English-born American biochemist and geneticist

Ohsumi, Yoshinori

Yoshinori Ohsumi

Japanese biologist

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George Gamow

American physicist

Tomas Lindahl, 2015

Tomas Lindahl

Swedish biochemist

Aziz Sancar

Aziz Sancar

Turkish-American biochemist

Elizabeth Blackburn

Elizabeth Blackburn

American molecular biologist and biochemist

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Arthur Peacocke

British biochemist and theologian

Carol W. Greider

Carol W. Greider

American molecular biologist

Phillip A. Sharp, 1993.

Phillip A. Sharp

American physiologist

Crick, Francis

Francis Crick

British biophysicist

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Matthew Meselson

American biologist

Rosalind Franklin poses for a black-and-white portrait, wearing a light top and a beaded necklace, with her hand resting under her chin.

Rosalind Franklin

British scientist

Modrich, Paul

Paul Modrich

American biochemist