DNA: what is it, and what does it do?

• 5.1 Knowledge about DNA is increasing justice in the world.
• 5.2 The DNA molecule contains instructions for the development and functioning of all living organisms.
• 5.3 Genes are sections of DNA that contain instructions for making proteins.
• 5.4 Not all DNA contains instructions for making proteins.
• 5.5 How do genes work? An overview.

Information in DNA directs the production of the molecules that make up an organism.

• 5.6 In transcription, the information coded in DNA is copied into mRNA.
• 5.7 In translation, the mRNA copy of the information from DNA is used to build functional molecules.
• 5.8 Genes are regulated in several ways.

Damage to the genetic code has a variety of causes and effects.

• 5.9 What causes a mutation, and what are its effects?
• 5.10 This is how we do it: Does sunscreen use reduce skin cancer risk?
• 5.11 Faulty genes, coding for faulty enzymes, can lead to sickness.

Biotechnology is producing improvements in agriculture.

• 5.12 What is biotechnology?
• 5.13 Biotechnology can improve food nutrition and make farming more efficient and eco-friendly.
• 5.14 Fears and risks: are genetically modified foods safe?

Biotechnology has the potential for improving human health (and criminal justice).

• 5.15 The treatment of diseases and the production of medicines are improved with biotechnology.
• 5.16 Gene therapy: biotechnology can help diagnose and prevent genetic diseases, but has had limited success in curing them.
• 5.17 Cloning—ranging from genes to organs to individuals—offers both promise and perils.
• 5.18 DNA is an individual identifier: the uses and abuses of DNA fingerprinting.