What Is DNA?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) carries the genetic information in the body’s cells. DNA is made up of four similar chemicals (called bases and abbreviated A, T, C, and G) that are repeated over and over in pairs.

What Is a Gene?
A gene is a distinct portion of a cell’s DNA. Genes are coded instructions for making everything the body needs, especially proteins. Human beings have about 25,000 genes. Researchers have discovered what some of our genes do and have found some that are associated with disorders (such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease). There are, though, many genes whose functions are still unknown.

What Is the Human Genome?
The human genome is a complete copy of the entire set of human gene instructions. The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, identified all the human genes in DNA and stored the information in databases so all researchers everywhere could use it.

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