What is a genome?

Genome refers to the entire collection of DNA instructions for a living thing. The instructions for building and maintaining a certain organism are found in its DNA.

Each of the 100 trillion cells that make up our bodies comes with its own complete set of instructions for building us, much like a cookbook. Our genome, which consists of DNA, is a set of instructions for how to live. All the cells in your body, whether they're skin cells or liver cells, have this same set of instructions inside of them.

DNA is the material that makes up the blueprints for our genome. DNA contains a special chemical code that directs our physical and mental development and keeps us healthy.

The DNA code is based on the sequence of the four nucleotide bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine, or A, C, G, and T for short.

DNA is shaped like a double helix, a twisting structure.

A cell's chromosomes are made up of coiled up single strands of DNA. Chromosomes are found in the nucleus of every one of your cells. Genes are constructed by the "reading" of segments of DNA from our chromosomes.

Eye colour and height, for example, are just two of many traits that are determined by genes. The DNA of every living creature is different.

The human genome is made of 3.2 billion bases of DNA but other organisms have different genome sizes.

If printed out the 3.2 billion letters in your genome would:

Create a pile of paperback books. 200 feet (61 metres) tall

If printed out the 3.2 billion letters in your genome would:

Fill 200 500-page telephone directories

If printed out the 3.2 billion letters in your genome would:

If we recited at a rate of one letter per second for 24 hours every day, it would take a century.

If printed out the 3.2 billion letters in your genome would:

Extend 3,000 kilometres (1,864 miles), which is approximately the distance between London and the Canary Islands, Washington and Guatemala, or New Delhi and Hanoi.