What Is DNA?

What Is DNA?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is found in almost all the cells of our body.
Within those cells DNA is mostly housed in the nucleus, while a much
smaller amount of DNA can be found in mitochondria. DNA contains
the instructions (blueprints) for putting specific amino acids together to
make proteins. You see, the human body contains thousands of different
proteins, all of which our cells have to build using amino acids as the
building blocks. Without the DNA's instructions, our cells would not
know how to perform such a task.
  DNA is long and strand-like and organized into large structures called
chromosomes. Normally we have twenty-three pairs of chromosomes in
our nuclei. If we were to take a chromosome and find the end points of
the DNA, we could theoretically straighten it out like thread from a
spool. If we did so we would find thousands of small stretches called
genes on the DNA. We have thousands of genes, which contain the actual
instructions for building specific proteins.
   Human DNA contains around twenty-five thousand genes, which
   code for proteins. Each person has a unique gene profile.
  To oversimplify one of the most amazing events in nature, when a cell
wants to make a specific protein, it makes a copy of its DNA gene in the
form of RNA (ribonucleic acid). You see, DNA and RNA are virtually
the same thing. However, one of the most important differences is that the
RNA can leave the nucleus and travel to where proteins are made in
cells—the ribosomes . At this point both the blueprint
instructions (RNA) and the amino acids are available and it's the job of
the ribosomes to link (bond) amino acids together in the correct sequence.

What Do Cells Look Like?

What Do Cells Look Like?
Human cells can differ in size and function. Some are bigger and some
longer, some will make hormones while others will help our body move.
In fact, there are roughly two hundred different types of cells in our body.
Although these cells may seem unrelated, most of the general features will
be the same from one cell to the next. Therefore, we can discuss cells
by describing the features of a single cell. The unique characteristics of
different types of cells such red blood cells, muscle cells, and fat cells will
be described as they become relevant later in this chapter and book.
   Let's begin by examining the outer wall, or more scientifically the
plasma membrane of cells. As shown in Figure 2.1, the plasma membrane
separates the inside of the cell from the outside of the cell. The watery
environment inside the cell is called the intracellular fluid. Meanwhile, the
watery medium outside of cells is called the extracellular fluid. Previously,
it was noted that our body is about 60 percent water. Of this 60 percent,
roughly two-thirds of the water is intracellular fluid while the remaining
one-third is extracellular fluid, which would include the plasma of our
blood.

Free radicals

   Free radicals can cause damage within the human body by attacking
extremely important molecules such as DNA, proteins, and special fatty
acids. If these or other molecules are attacked by free radicals and have an
electron removed from their structure (oxidation) it is like pulling a bot-
tom card from a house of cards. The victimized molecule is rendered
weak and unstable and subject to breakdown. An example of this oxida-
tive damage can be demonstrated by leaving vegetable oil out in an open
container exposed to sunlight. The presence of oxygen and energy from
sunlight leads to the formation of oxygen-based free radicals, which
attack the fat causing them to break down in smaller molecules. Some of
these molecules can produce an offensive odor and taste.
   Throughout time we have accepted the presence of free radicals, and
our body has evolved to meet the challenge. We are armed with a battery
of antioxidants to keep the free radicals in check. The term antioxidant
implies that these molecules will prevent free radicals from pulling elec-
trons (oxidation) from other molecules. They may do so by donating their
own electrons to a free radical. This pacifies a free radical and spares
other molecules. Antioxidants are unique because they remain relatively
stable after giving up an electron. They are designed to handle this
process.

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