What is genetics? Jemima explains.
Genetics is all about genes, and genes are what make people, so really, genetics is all about what you and me are made of!
Genes are made out of DNA, and it is our DNA that makes us who we are. Every person has different DNA and that’s why everyone looks different. Except in our class we have Shelly and Kelly, they are identical twins. Identical twins look the same because they have the same genes. The genes tell our body how to grow so they control what we end up looking like! That’s why I’m so pretty and Jack looks so stupid.
Everything living has genes
It’s not just people who have genes. Everything that’s alive has genes. Whales, dogs, cats, ants, and even trees have genes. Even bacterica like germs have genes made out of DNA.
That’s bacteria Jemima. You will never learn how to spell right will you? The differences between plants, animals, and people, come from the differences in the genes. People are basically the same as one another. Teacher said even the people who look most different have more than 99 percent of the same genes as me. Animals like dogs and cats don’t share quite as many genes with people, but still a lot. Scientists have found out that even a banana has about half the same genes as a person.
So if you look at the genes, we are all like a close family?
Yeah. Looking at how similar genes are can help tell how closely living creatures are related. That’s because genes are passed down from parents to children. Every newborn baby gets half its genes from one parent and half from the other. If you had a long lost brother, comparing your genes and those of your parents could help tell for sure they were related to you.
I wish you were a long lost brother.
Be quiet Jemima. Comparing genes also helps scientists figure out how animals and plants evolved. The more similar the genes, the more closely related. People and monkeys have much more similar genes than people and cats!
Because we came from monkeys right?
Kind of. We came from animals like monkeys. But they aren’t around anymore.
What is genetic engineering? Jack explains.
Nowadays, scientists know so much about genes, they can take genes out of one creature and put them in another. This is called genetic engineering and they sometimes use it to make plants like fruit and rice more nutritious and grow faster and bigger, so they can feed more people. It can be used to make animals like cows make better milk. It could even be used to help sick people. I wish Mum and Dad had genetically engineered me to be really fast.
They can’t do that!
But maybe they could figure out how later. I bet I could genetic engineer myself to be way stronger.
There are more links to cool sites about genetics for kids on the side bar, and within the blog itself.
